title: Genetic and Phenotypic Screening of Mannose-Binding Lectin in Relation to Risk of Recurrent Vulvovaginal Infections in Women of North India: A Prospective Cohort Study.
abstract: Recurrent Vulvovaginal Infections (RVVI) is common problem associated with women of reproductive age. The function and deleterious effect of Mannose Binding Lectin 2 (MBL2) common polymorphisms are reported to be associated with various diseases. However, the role ofMBL2promoter gene polymorphisms and their combined effect with structural variant along with Serum Mannose Binding Lectin (sMBL) levels in RVVI has not been investigated. The study included 258 RVVI cases and 203 age matched healthy controls. These were investigated for the distribution ofMBL2codon 54 and promoter polymorphisms by Amplification Refractory Mutation System-Polymerase Chain Reaction (ARMS-PCR). sMBL levels were quantified by Enzyme Linked Immnosorbent Assay (ELISA). The frequency of X allele and its genotypes was significantly high in cases than controls conferring risk toward RVVI and its types (p< 0.05). The HXPA (OR; 2.0), LXQB (OR; 1.43) haplotypes were associated with susceptibility to RVVI cases while haplotype LYQB significantly protected against RVVI (OR; 0.58), Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) (OR; 0.27) and Mixed Infections (MI) cases (OR; 0.62) with high frequency observed in controls (p< 0.05). Mean sMBL levels were significantly low in RVVI, BV, Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC), and MI cases compared to controls (p< 0.05). VVC patient showed significantly low sMBL levels than RVVI and MI cases (p< 0.05). The mean sMBL levels segregated based onMBL2genotypes and haplotypes showed significant difference in different cases groups with controls. The findings of the present study suggested thatMBL2Y/X polymorphism and low sMBL levels were associated with susceptibility to RVVI either it is BV, VVC, or MI. Thus MBL deficiency in women with RVVI may contribute to decreased efficiency in clearing of pathogens. Hence, specific measures like administration of purified or recombinant MBL might decrease the incidence of vaginal infections recurrences and more-effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, India.
authors.forename: Namarta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kalia
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, India.
authors.forename: Jatinder
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Bebe Nanki Mother and Child Care Centre, Government Medical College Amritsar, India.
authors.forename: Sujata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, India.
authors.forename: Hardesh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, India.
authors.forename: Manpreet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaur
keywords: MBL2; bacterial vaginosis; mixed infections; recurrent vulvovaginal infections; vulvovaginal candidiasis