TUMOUR SUPPRESSOR GENE (P53) MODULATES LIF ACTIVITY - A CAUSATIVE FACTOR FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEURAL TUBE DEFECTS IN INDIA

Neural tube defect (NTDs) is the most severe from of congenital malformation of central nervous system leading to infant mortality and morbidity. The most common form of NTDs is anencephaly (spina bifida) and myelomeningocele. The incidence in the population varies depending on racial/ethical variation including genetic and unknown environmental factors. The etiopathology of NTDs is still unknown be- tween two different gene, hence present study has been designed with the aims to evaluate gene mutation between tumour suppressor gene and leukaemia inhibitory factor during organogenesis. We have collected the blood samples (n= 43) of clinically diagnosed NTDs with respec- tive controls (n= 46) for PCR based DNA analysis to evaluate the frequency of p53 and LIF gene mutation using specific primers. Present findings reveals that highly significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in LIF gene using two different exons confirming p53 gene inactiva- tion influences neural ectoderm proliferation result increased "risk factor" for the development of NTDs. Keywords- Neural tube defect, tumour suppressor gene, leukaemia inhibitory factor. Short Title- LIF and p53 gene interaction in NTDs