Toll-like receptors genes polymorphisms and the occurrence of HCMV infection among pregnant women.
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is the most common cause of intrauterine infections worldwide. The toll-like receptors (TLRs) have been reported as important factors in immune response against HCMV. Particularly, TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 have been shown to be involved in antiviral immunity. Evaluation of the role of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), located within TLR2, TLR4 and TLR9 genes, in the development of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in pregnant women and their fetuses and neonates, was performed.



The study was performed for 131 pregnant women, including 66 patients infected with HCMV during pregnancy, and 65 age-matched control pregnant individuals. The patients were selected to the study, based on serological status of anti-HCMV IgG and IgM antibodies and on the presence of viral DNA in their body fluids. Genotypes in TLR2 2258 A > G, TLR4 896 G > A and 1196 C > T and TLR9 2848 G > A SNPs were determined by self-designed nested PCR-RFLP assays. Randomly selected PCR products, representative for distinct genotypes in TLR SNPs, were confirmed by sequencing. A relationship between the genotypes, alleles, haplotypes and multiple variants in the studied polymorphisms, and the occurrence of HCMV infection in pregnant women and their offsprings, was determined, using a logistic regression model.



Genotypes in all the analyzed polymorphisms preserved the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in pregnant women, both infected and uninfected with HCMV (P > 0.050). GG homozygotic and GA heterozygotic status in TLR9 2848 G > A SNP decreased significantly the occurrence of HCMV infection (OR 0.44 95% CI 0.21-0.94 in the dominant model, P ≤ 0.050). The G allele in TLR9 SNP was significantly more frequent among the uninfected pregnant women than among the infected ones (χ2= 4.14, P ≤ 0.050). Considering other polymorphisms, similar frequencies of distinct genotypes, haplotypes and multiple-SNP variants were observed between the studied groups of patients.



TLR9 2848 G > A SNP may be associated with HCMV infection in pregnant women.
Scientific Laboratory of the Center of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics and Screening, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 281/289 Rzgowska Street, Lodz, 93-338, Poland. wwujcicka@yahoo.com.|Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 281/289 Rzgowska Street, Lodz, 93-338, Poland. wwujcicka@yahoo.com.
Wioletta
W
Wujcicka
Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Biological Chemistry, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Poland.
Edyta
E
Paradowska
Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Biological Chemistry, Institute of Medical Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lodz, Poland.
Mirosława
M
Studzińska
2nd Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duchess Anna Mazowiecka Public Teaching Hospital, Warsaw, Poland.
Jan
J
Wilczyński
Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital-Research Institute, 281/289 Rzgowska Street, Lodz, 93-338, Poland.
Dorota
D
Nowakowska
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000235:genetics*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; C495371:TLR9 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D051217:Toll-Like Receptor 9
Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV); Infection; Pregnant women; Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP); Toll-like receptors (TLRs)