Lack of association between polymorphisms of MASP2 and susceptibility to SARS coronavirus infection.
BACKGROUND
The pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory disease syndrome (SARS) is not fully understood. One case-control study has reported an association between susceptibility to SARS and mannan-binding lectin (MBL) in China. As the downstream protein of MBL, variants of the MBL-associated serine protease-2 (MASP2) gene may be associated with SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection in the same population.


METHODS
Thirty individuals with SARS were chosen for analysis of MASP2 polymorphisms by means of PCR direct sequencing. Tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) were chosen using pairwise tagging algorithms. The frequencies of four tag SNPs (rs12711521, rs2261695, rs2273346 and rs7548659) were ascertained in 376 SARS patients and 523 control subjects, using the Beckman SNPstream Ultra High Throughput genotyping platform.


RESULTS
There is no significant association between alleles or genotypes of the MASP2 tagSNP and susceptibility to SARS-CoV in both Beijing and Guangzhou populations. Diplotype (rs2273346 and rs12711521)were analyzed for association with susceptibility to SARS, no statistically significant evidence of association was observed. The Beijing and Guangzhou sample groups were homogeneous regarding demographic and genetic parameters, a joined analysis also showed no statistically significant evidence of association.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data do not suggest a role for MASP2 polymorphisms in SARS susceptibility in northern and southern China.
Wang
Yan
Y
Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, PR China. 001wangyan@sina.com
Yan
Jiangwei
J
Shi
Yuling
Y
Li
Ping
P
Liu
Chuanxuan
C
Ma
Qingjun
Q
Yang
Ruifu
R
Wang
Xiaoyi
X
Zhu
Lina
L
Yang
Xiao
X
Cao
Cheng
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D045473:Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D045169:Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
C105296:MASP2 protein, human; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases