Single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of the CD209 gene is associated with human predisposition to severe forms of tick-borne encephalitis
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
Authors: Barkhash, Andrey V.; Perelygin, Andrey A.; Babenko, Vladimir N.; Brinton, Margo A.; Voevoda, Mikhail I.
Abstract
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a neurotropic, positive-sense RNA virus of the genus Flavivirus (family Flaviviridae) which can cause a variety of clinical manifestations in humans. Previously the severity and outcome of dengue fever and hepatitis C (diseases caused by viruses from the family Flaviviridae) were associated with the rs4804803 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the promoter region of the human CD209 gene. This gene encodes dendritic cell-specific ICAM3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), a C-type lectin pathogen-recognition receptor expressed on the surface of dendritic cells and some types of macrophages. In the current study, a possible association between two SNPs in the promoter region of the CD209 gene (rs4804803 and rs2287886) and predisposition to severe forms of TBEV-induced disease was investigated. The genotypic, allelic and haplotypic frequencies of these SNPs were analyzed in 136 non-immunized Russian patients with different clinical manifestations of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) and in a control group. An increase in the frequency of the rs2287886 SNP AA homozygotes and the A allele was detected among patients with severe central nervous system disease compared with the group of patients with meningitis (P = 0.003 and 0.019), or a combined group of patients with mild forms (fever and meningitis) (P = 0.003 and 0.026), or the control group (P = 0.007 and 0.035). Thus, our results suggest that the CD209 gene promoter region rs2287886 SNP is associated with predisposition to severe forms of TBE in the Russian population. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
IRF-1 SNPs influence the risk for childhood allergic asthma: A critical role for pro-inflammatory immune regulation
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
Authors: Landgraf-Rauf, Katja; Boeck, Andreas; Siemens, Diana; Klucker, Elisabeth; Vogelsang, Vanessa; Schmidt, Susanne; Kunze, Sonja; Weissenbacher, Claudia; Graessel, Anke; Schmidt-Weber, Carsten; von Mutius, Erika; Schedel, Michaela; Schaub, Bianca
Abstract
Background: Allergic and non-allergic childhood asthma has been characterized by distinct immune mechanisms. While interferon regulating factor 1 (IRF-1) polymorphisms (SNPs) influence atopy risk, the effect of SNPs on asthma phenotype-specific immune mechanisms is unclear. We assessed whether IRF-1 SNPs modify distinct immune-regulatory pathways in allergic and non-allergic childhood asthma (AA/NA). Methods: In the CLARA study, asthma was characterized by doctor's diagnosis and AA vs NA by positive or negative specific IgE. Children were genotyped for four tagging SNPs within IRF-1 (n = 172). mRNA expression was measured with qRT-PCR. Gene expression was analyzed depending on genetic variants within IRF-1 and phenotype including haplotype estimation and an allelic risk score. Results: Carrying the risk alleles of IRF-1 in rs10035166, rs2706384, or rs2070721 was associated with increased risk for AA. Carrying the non-risk allele in rs17622656 was associated with lower risk for AA but not NA. In AA carrying the risk alleles, an increased pro-inflammatory expression of ICAM3, IRF-8, XBP-1, IFN-., RGS13, RORC, and TSC2 was observed. NOD2 expression was decreased in AA with risk alleles in rs2706384 and rs10035166 and with risk haplotype. Further, AA with risk haplotype showed increased IL-13 secretion. NA with risk allele in rs2070721 compared to non-risk allele in rs17622656 showed significantly upregulated calcium, innate, mTOR, neutrophil, and inflammatory-associated genes. Conclusion: IRF-1 polymorphisms influence the risk for childhood allergic asthma being associated with increased pro-inflammatory gene regulation. Thus, it is critical to implement IRF-1 genetics in immune assessment for childhood asthma phenotypes.