The growth hormone receptor gene deleted for exon three (GHRd3) polymorphism is associated with birth and placental weight

CONTEXT Human growth hormone receptor (GHR) transcripts have two isoforms, full-length (GHRfl) or exon 3 deleted (GHRd3). An association of these isoforms has been found with small for gestational age (SGA) infants but does not influence adult height. The role of this polymorphism in the birth size spectrum in the general population is unclear. OBJECTIVE To determine the association of maternal and infants GHR exon 3 polymorphism with antenatal growth, birth size and early postnatal growth in two large, normal white European birth cohorts. STUDY DESIGN Pregnant women from white European families were recruited by the University College London Foetal Growth Study (n = 774) and the Moore normal pregnancy cohort (n = 274). GHR variants, wild-type (fl) and deleted for exon 3 (d3) were analysed using multiplex PCR. RESULTS There was a significant underrepresentation of infants wild-type fl/fl (36%) and overrepresentation of d3/d3 (14%) genotypes in the SGA infants within the cohorts (χ(2) = 11·2, P = 0·003, df = 2). Fl/fl was overrepresented in large for gestational age (LGA) infants (χ(2) = 6·1, P = 0·047, df = 2). There was a significant association of infants GHR isoforms with placental weight (P < 0·001) and birth weight standard deviation scores (P = 0·04) with the fl/fl genotype associated with a larger placental and birth weight. In multiple regression analysis, the GHR isoform type, maternal booking weight and parity influenced placental weight (R(2) = ·35; P < 0·001, df = 7). The GHR isoform type was not related to antenatal anthropometric measurements or growth in infancy. CONCLUSION These data suggest that the GHR isoforms are associated with placental and birth weight.