Polymorphism in a gene coding for the inflammasome component NALP3 and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis in women with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Patients with vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS) and control subjects were tested for a polymorphism in the gene coding for the NALP3 component of inflammasomes, cytoplasmic structures regulating interleukin (IL)-1beta production.


METHODS
DNA from 143 women with VVS and 182 control women were tested for a length polymorphism in intron 4 of the gene (CIAS1) that codes for NALP3. Vestibular tissue was examined for NALP3 expression. Whole blood cultures were tested for Candida albicans-induced IL-1beta production.


RESULTS
The allele 12 frequency was higher in control subjects than in the patients with VVS (P = .02). Among patients with VVS and a self-reported history of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), the allele 7 frequency was 43.9% as compared with 30.8% in patients with no history of RVVC and 26.9% in control women (P = .035 vs other patients and .001 vs control subjects). NALP3 was identified in vestibular tissue. C albicans-induced IL-1beta production was reduced in samples from women with the 7,7 genotype (P = .030).


CONCLUSIONS
Polymorphism in the CIAS1 gene may play a central role in the triggering of VVS in a subset of patients.
Lev-Sagie
Ahinoam
A
Division of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Prus
Diana
D
Linhares
Iara M
IM
Lavy
Yuval
Y
Ledger
William J
WJ
Witkin
Steven S
SS
D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012008:Recurrence; D054515:Vulvar Vestibulitis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology
D002352:Carrier Proteins; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C453881:NLRP3 protein, human