title: Cartilage Intermediate Layer Protein and Asporin Polymorphisms Are Independent Risk Factors of Lumbar Disc Degeneration in Male Collegiate Athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Lumbar disc degeneration (LDDG), recently reported to have strong genetic determinants, is a major cause of discopathy and lower back pain. However, most studies have only evaluated the effects of a single susceptibility polymorphism. Our purpose was to examine the effect of two susceptibility polymorphism for LDDG in Japanese collegiate athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated two susceptibility genes for LDDG-cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP) and asporin (ASPN)-in 516 collegiate athletes and genotyped the risk allele of CILP (1184T/C) and ASPN (D14). LDDG was evaluated using T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging.
  
  
  RESULTS
  By using logistic regression analysis, we found that the ASPN D14 allele and CILP genotype were associated with an increased risk of LDDG in male but not female athletes (CILP CT: odds ratios [OR] = 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07-2.93; CILP CC: OR = 4.38, 95% CI = 1.42-13.54; ASPN D14: OR = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.10-4.28]. We also found that CILP C and ASPN D14 were independent variables. The ORs with more than two risk alleles were largely increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CILP and ASPN polymorphisms are independent genetic risk factors for LDDG in male but not female Japanese collegiate athletes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan ; Anti-Aging Research Institute, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok-Ki
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Min
authors.affiliation: Department of Exercise Physiology, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Koichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Science, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishigami
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport Medicine, Nippon Sport Science University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiranuma
keywords: ASPN; CILP; athlete; disc degeneration; polymorphisms