ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, is a public health problem in Brazil that affects peripheral nerves, resulting in physical disabilities. During host-pathogen interactions, the immune response determines leprosy outcomes from a localised (paucibacillary) form to a disseminated (multibacillary) form. The recognition of M. leprae involves the DC-SIGN receptor, which is present on the dendritic cells (DCs) and participates in immune activation. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the association of polymorphisms in the promoter region of the gene encoding DC-SIGN (CD209) and the clinical form of leprosy, and to investigate its functional effects. METHODS The study population included 406 leprosy patients from an endemic area in Brazil [310 multibacillary (MB); 96 paucibacillary (PB)]. A functional evaluation based on the effects of the single nucleotide variant (SNV) associated with PB leprosy on the specific immune response was also performed. RESULTS The GA genotype and the presence of the A allele of rs735240 (-939G>A) were associated with PB leprosy [OR: 2.09 (1.18-3.69) and 1.84 (1.07-3.14), respectively]. Carriers of the A allele showed reduced expression of CD209 and TGF-β1 in leprosy lesions in comparison with individuals with GG genotype, in addition to a higher response to the Mitsuda test. CONCLUSION These data suggest that rs735240 influences the immune response against M. leprae and clinical presentation of leprosy.
ABSTRACT
A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica provocada pelo patógeno intracelular obrigatório Mycobacterium leprae. Dado à baixa variabilidade desse bacilo, aliado à variedade de formas clínicas desenvolvidas na hanseníase, sugere-se que o componente genético do hospedeiro é o grande responsável pelo desenvolvimento da doença. Até o momento, polimorfismos de base única (SNPs) em diversos genes foram associados com a predisposição à hanseníase em estudos independentes em diferentes populações. Recentemente, SNPs no gene PKLR foram associados ao risco de desenvolvimento da hanseníase pelo nosso grupo. Na tentativa de melhor investigar o efeito de suscetibilidade desse gene a patógenos intracelulares, o presente estudo avaliou a associação de SNPs adicionais do PKLR com a hanseníase na população Brasileira e com a tuberculose na população de Moçambique. Os parâmetros funcionais relacionados aos marcadores do PKLR também foram avaliados. Inicialmente, foi feita uma seleção de SNPs a partir da busca nos dados do HapMap. Estes SNPs foram genotipados em um estudo de associação seguindo um desenho do tipo caso-controle na população do Rio de Janeiro. Os resultados mostraram uma associação significativa de suscetibilidade a hanseníase para os SNPs rs11264355, rs11264359, rs4620533 e rs4971072 na população do Rio de Janeiro, assim como para o haplótipo rs11264355G/rs11264359G/rs4620533G/rs49710729.
Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the obligate intracellular pathogenMycobacterium leprae. Given the low variability of the bacile with the variety of clinicalphenotype exhibited in leprosy, it is suggested that the genetic componente of the host isresponsable to leprosy development. Until now, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inmany genes were associated with leprosy predisposition in independente studies andpopulation. Recently, SNPs in the PKLR gene were associated with leprosy susceptibility byour group. Aiming to investigate the susceptibility to intracellular pathogens, this studyevaluated the association of additional SNPs of the PKLR in a Brazilian population, followedby an case-control study with tuberculosis in a Mozambique population. Functionalparameters correlated to the polymorphic variants were also evaluated. Initially, using theHapMap population data, we performed an analysis to search for SNPs which were tested inan case-control association study. Results showed a significant susceptibility association withleprosy within SNPs rs11264355, rs11264359, rs4620533 and rs4971072 in Rio de Janeiropopulation. In addition, we demonstrated that the haplotypers11264355G/rs11264359G/rs4620533G/rs4971072G was significantly associated withleprosy susceptibility in this population...