Association of HTR2A (rs6313) gene polymorphism with autism spectrum disorder in Jordanian children: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVES: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with a significant genetic component, often linked to disruptions in the serotonergic system. The HTR2A gene, specifically the rs6313 (102T>C) polymorphism, is a primary candidate for investigating ASD susceptibility. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of rs6313 polymorphism with susceptibility to ASD in the Jordanian population. METHODS: In this case-control study, 99 Jordanian children with ASD and 109 neurotypical controls were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. Genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed under multiple genetic models. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between cases and controls regarding genotype (p=0.54) or allele frequencies (p=0.3284). The distribution adhered to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest no significant association between the HTR2A rs6313 and ASD susceptibility in the Jordanian population. These results emphasize the need for larger, multi-marker studies to account for regional genetic diversity.