title: ELN and FBN2 gene variants as risk factors for two sports-related musculoskeletal injuries.
abstract: The proteins ELN and FBN2 are important in extracellular matrix function. The ELN rs2071307 and FBN2 rs331079 gene variants have been associated with soft tissue pathologies. We aimed to determine whether these variants were predisposing factors for both Achilles tendinopathy (AT) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ruptures. For the AT study, 135 cases (TEN group) and 239 asymptomatic controls were recruited. For the ACL rupture study our cohort consisted of 141 cases (ACL group) and 219 controls. Samples were genotyped for both the ELN rs2071307 and FBN2 rs331079 variants using TaqMan assays. Analysis of variance and chi-squared tests were used to determine whether either variant was associated with AT or ACL rupture with significance set at p<0.05. The GG genotype of the FBN2 variant was significantly over-represented within the TEN group (p=0.035; OR=1.83; 95% CI 1.04-3.25) compared to the CON group. We also found that the frequency of the G allele was significantly different between the TEN (p=0.017; OR=1.90; 95% CI 1.11-3.27) and ACL groups (p=0.047; OR=1.76; 95% CI 1.00-3.10) compared to controls. The ELN rs207137 variant was not associated with either AT or ACL rupture. In conclusion, DNA sequence variation within the FBN2 gene is associated with both AT and ACL rupture.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health and Life Sciences, University of Northampton, Northampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: L El
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Khoury
authors.affiliation: UCT/MRC Research unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Posthumus
authors.affiliation: UCT/MRC Research unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine, Human Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: The Sports Science Orthopaedic Clinic, Sports Science, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: van der Merwe
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Human Biosciences and the Musculoskeletal Research Centre, La Trobe University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Handley
authors.affiliation: Department for Physiotherapy, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Division of Health and Life Sciences, University of Northampton, Northampton, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Raleigh
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries*; D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004549:Elastin / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D000071840:Fibrillin-2; D000071837:Fibrillins; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012421:Rupture / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C000605723:FBN2 protein, human; D000071840:Fibrillin-2; D000071837:Fibrillins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D004549:Elastin