Inducible nitric oxide synthase promoter polymorphism in human brucellosis.
Nitric oxide (NO), produced by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) protein, is a defence mechanism against various pathogens, including bacteria of the genus Brucella. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between the NOS2 gene promoter polymorphism, TAAA(n) and CCTTT(n) microsatellites, and the predisposition to human brucellosis. We performed a case-control study in 85 patients with brucellosis and 100 healthy individuals, matched for age and sex, living in the same geographic area, in whom the NOS2 promoter was genotyped by using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method combined with fluorescent technology. No statistically significant differences were observed in the distribution of TAAA(n) alleles between the groups under study. When the overall NOS2 CCTTT(n) allele distribution of the brucellosis patients was compared with that of the control subjects, a significant skewing was observed (P = 0.04, by chi(2) test from 2 x 9 contingency table). Interestingly, we observed a trend towards Brucella infection protection with the 9 repeat (181 bp) allele (1.8% patients vs. 7.5% controls; P = 0.01, odds ratios = 0.22, 95% confidence interval = 0.05-0.83), which turned out to be non-significant after applying multiple testing. We concluded that the NOS2 microsatellite polymorphism might not have a major effect on brucellosis; nevertheless, the fact that a non-significant trend towards protection was detected in the CCTTT(n) alleles may be an indication for a follow-up study.
Orozco
Gisela
G
Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López-Neyra, CSIC, C/Ventanilla No 11, 18001 Granada, Spain.
Sánchez
Elena
E
López-Nevot
Miguel Angel
MA
Caballero
Abelardo
A
Bravo
María José
MJ
Morata
Pilar
P
de Dios Colmenero
Juan
J
Alonso
Antonio
A
Martín
Javier
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002002:Brucella / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II