title: Association of Dectin-1 and DC-SIGN gene single nucleotide polymorphisms with fungal keratitis in the northern Han Chinese population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Dendritic cell-associated C-type lectin-1 (Dectin-1) and dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) play a crucial role in the early procedure of fungal pathogen defenses. The present study evaluated the associations between Dectin-1 and DC-SIGN gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to fungal keratitis (FK) in the northern Han Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The polymorphisms of Dectin-1 (rs17206002, rs3901533, rs11053613, and rs3901532) and DC-SIGN (rs4804803, rs2287886, rs735239, and rs735240) for 109 FK patients and 220 matched healthy controls were determined by PCR and DNA direct sequencing assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Each SNP was consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p>0.05). The frequencies of genotypes and alleles for rs735239 and rs735240 (DC-SIGN) showed statistical differences between patients and control groups (p<0.05). The wild G allele of rs735239 and the wild A allele of rs735240 were significantly higher in patients (p=0.003, OR=1.766, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.207-2.585; p=0.014, OR=1.609, 95% CI 1.100-2.355, respectively). No association with a risk of FK was found for the remaining SNPs (p>0.05) even after ruling out clinical characteristics, such as severity degree and case history. Carriers of the haplotype TC (rs4804803 and rs2287886) had a higher risk of developing fungal keratitis (p=0.007, OR=1.710, 95% CI 1.154-2.534). The distribution of haplotypes AG and GA (rs735239 and rs735240) between the two groups also showed significant differences (p=0.014, p=0.003, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two SNPs of DC-SIGN (rs735239 and rs735240) are associated with susceptibility to FK in the northern Han Chinese population. The haplotypes of DC-SIGN may be susceptible to the risk of FK, whereas the analysis of Dectin-1 gene polymorphisms showed no significant association with FK risk. Further research with a larger sample is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Chengye
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Che
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine, Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Ang
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, China.
authors.forename: Guiqiu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006579:Heterozygote; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin; D000099181:Dectin-1
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000099215:DC-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Nonintegrin; C546929:CLEC7A protein, human; D000099181:Dectin-1