@article {10459, title = {HLA-G regulatory polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to HCV infection.}, journal = {HLA}, volume = {89}, year = {2017}, month = {2017 03}, pages = {135-142}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is able to bypass the immune system modulating innate and adaptive immune response and blocking T helper 1 (Th1) cell production. Because the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G molecule has immunomodulatory properties inhibiting the function and production of natural killer and cytotoxic lymphocyte T cells, as well as promoting shift from Th1 toward Th2 response, we hypothesized its involvement in susceptibility to HCV infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Considering that HLA-G mRNA expression has been reported to be under genetic control, an association study was conducted analyzing 800 base pairs upstream the ATG at the 5{\textquoteright}upstream regulator region (URR) and 850 base pairs from ATG to exon 3 and the 3{\textquoteright}untranslated region (UTR) of HLA-G gene in Italian HCV-positive patients and uninfected controls.

RESULTS: Four 5{\textquoteright}URR polymorphisms (-725C>G>T, -509C>G, -400G>A and -398G>A), 7 polymorphisms at coding region (+15G>A, +36G>A, +243G>A, insC506, 531G>C, delA615 and 685G>A), the +644G>T polymorphism, and 1 haplotype (TTGTTCCIGAC) showed different frequency distributions between HCV patients and uninfected controls.

CONCLUSION: The results from our study suggest a possible involvement of HLA-G in the risk modulation toward HCV infection.

}, keywords = {3{\textquoteright} Untranslated Regions, 5{\textquoteright} Untranslated Regions, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Alleles, Case-Control Studies, Exons, Female, Gene Expression, Gene Frequency, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Haplotypes, Hepacivirus, Hepatitis C, HLA-G Antigens, Humans, Italy, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk, Th1 Cells}, issn = {2059-2310}, doi = {10.1111/tan.12959}, author = {Catamo, E and Zupin, L and Freato, N and Polesello, V and Celsi, F and Croc{\`e}, S L and Masutti, F and Pozzato, G and Segat, L and Crovella, S} } @article {8353, title = {MBL2 Genetic Variants in HCV Infection Susceptibility, Spontaneous Viral Clearance and Pegylated Interferon Plus Ribavirin Treatment Response.}, journal = {Scand J Immunol}, volume = {84}, year = {2016}, month = {2016 Jul}, pages = {61-9}, abstract = {

Hepatitis C is disease that damages the liver, and it is caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The pathology became chronic in about 80\% of the cases due to virus persistence in the host organism. The standard of care consists of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin; however, the treatment response is very variable and different host/viral factors may concur in the disease outcome. The mannose-binding protein C (MBL) is a component of the innate immune system, able to recognize HCV and consecutively activating the immune response. MBL is encoded by MBL2 gene, and polymorphisms, two in the promoter region (H/L and X/Y) and three in exon 1 (at codon 52, 54 and 57), have been described as functionally influencing protein expression. In this work, 203 Italian HCV patients and 61 healthy controls were enrolled and genotyped for the five MBL2 polymorphisms mentioned above to investigate their role in HCV infection susceptibility, spontaneous viral clearance and treatment response. MBL2 polymorphisms were not associated with HCV infection susceptibility and with spontaneous viral clearance, while MBL2 O allele, O/O genotype, HYO haplotype and DP combined genotype (all correlated with low or deficient MBL expression) were associated with sustained virological response. Moreover, a meta-analysis to assess the role of MBL2 polymorphisms in HCV infection susceptibility was also performed: YA haplotype could be associated with protection towards HCV infection.

}, issn = {1365-3083}, doi = {10.1111/sji.12444}, author = {Zupin, L and Polesello, V and Alberi, G and Moratelli, G and Croc{\`e}, S L and Masutti, F and Pozzato, G and Crovella, S and Segat, L} } @article {7753, title = {Comprehensive analysis of polymorphisms in the HLA-G 5{\textquoteright} upstream regulatory and 3{\textquoteright} untranslated regions in Brazilian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.}, journal = {Tissue Antigens}, volume = {85}, year = {2015}, month = {2015 Jun}, pages = {458-65}, abstract = {

This study aims to comprehensively analyze human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-G polymorphisms association with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development and clinical manifestations. The HLA-G 5{\textquoteright} upstream regulatory region (URR), 3{\textquoteright} untranslated region (UTR) and a cytosine deletion at exon 3 (ΔC, HLA-G*0105N allele) were analyzed in 114 SLE patients and 128 healthy controls from North East Brazil. The +3003T>C (rs1707) C allele and the HG010101c extended HLA-G allele were significantly more frequent in SLE patients than healthy controls (+3003C allele frequency: 12\% in SLE patients vs 6\% in controls; odds ratio (OR), 2.10, 95\% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-4.28, P = 0.026; HG010101c frequency: 11.8\% in SLE patients and 6.3\% in controls; OR, 2.14, 95\% CI, 1.01-4.51, P = 0.046) and were associated with susceptibility for disease development. Other polymorphisms were associated with different clinical manifestations. Although HLA-G role in SLE disease is far from being elucidated yet, our association study results along with a systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that HLA-G might be able to slightly modulate the complex SLE phenotype (pooled OR, 1.14, 95\% CI, 1.02-1.27, P = 0.021).

}, issn = {1399-0039}, doi = {10.1111/tan.12545}, author = {Catamo, E and Addobbati, C and Segat, L and Sotero Fragoso, T and Tavares Dantas, A and de Ata{\'\i}de Mariz, H and Ferreira da Rocha Junior, L and Branco PintoDuarte, A L and Coelho, A V C and de Moura, R R and Polesello, V and Crovella, S and Sandrin Garcia, P} } @article {8090, title = {Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 gene polymorphism association with susceptibility to celiac disease in Italian patients.}, journal = {Genet Mol Res}, volume = {14}, year = {2015}, month = {2015}, pages = {16343-52}, abstract = {

The aim of this research was to study polymorphisms in the genes encoding cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in patients with celiac disease (CD) antigens DQ2 (DQ2-positive) or DQ8 (DQ8-positive). We compared the results with healthy controls to determine whether any of the polymorphisms have a role in susceptibility to CD. A case-control of 192 patients with CD (96 DQ2-positive and 96 DQ8-positive) and 96 healthy controls from northeast Italy were included in the study. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Significant differences for the TNF-α(-308 G>A) polymorphism were observed when we compared the flowing groups: DQ2-positive with controls [odds ratio (OR) = 0.45, P = 0.0002]; DQ8-positive with controls (OR = 3.55, P < 0.0001); and DQ2-positive with DQ8-positive (OR = 0.12, P < 0.0001). We did not observe a statistically significant association between IL-6 (-174 G>C) polymorphism and CD (P > 0.05). Our results suggest that TNF-α(-308 G>A) polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to CD in Italian patients.

}, issn = {1676-5680}, doi = {10.4238/2015.December.9.2}, author = {de Albuquerque Maranh{\~a}o, R M and Martins Esteves, F A and Crovella, S and Segat, L and Eleut{\'e}rio Souza, P R} } @article {3504, title = {HLA-G 14 bp deletion/insertion polymorphism and mother-to-child transmission of HIV.}, journal = {Tissue Antigens}, volume = {83}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Mar}, pages = {161-7}, abstract = {

The human leukocyte antigen HLA-G, highly expressed at the maternal-fetal interface, has a pivotal role in mediating immune tolerance. In this study we investigated the influence of HLA-G 14 bp insertion polymorphism in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 mother-to-child HIV-1 transmission. The 14 bp insertion polymorphism was analyzed among 99 HIV-1 positive mothers and 329 infants born to HIV-positive mothers in Zambia, among whom vertical transmission status and timing had been determined. HLA-G 14 bp insertion polymorphism was detected using a custom TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyping assay. Logistic regression was conducted to examine the associations between HLA-G alleles and the risk of HIV transmission. The 14 bp insertion allele was more frequent in HIV exposed-uninfected (EU) infants than in infected infants, and was associated with reduced risk of both in utero (IU) and intrapartum (IP) HIV transmission, after adjusting for maternal cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell count and plasma viral load. Maternal HLA-G 14 bp insertion genotype and HLA-G concordance between mother and child were not associated with the risk of perinatal HIV transmission. The presence of the 14 bp insertion associates with protection toward IU and IP HIV infection in children from Zambia, suggesting that HLA-G could be involved in the vertical transmission of HIV.

}, keywords = {Adult, Alleles, Base Pairing, Child, Genotype, HIV Infections, HLA-G Antigens, Humans, INDEL Mutation, Infant, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Mothers, Polymorphism, Genetic, Young Adult}, issn = {1399-0039}, doi = {10.1111/tan.12296}, author = {Segat, L and Zupin, L and Kim, H-Y and Catamo, E and Thea, D M and Kankasa, C and Aldrovandi, G M and Kuhn, L and Crovella, S} } @article {3567, title = {HLA-G gene polymorphisms associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis disease and its severity in Brazilian patients.}, journal = {Tissue Antigens}, volume = {84}, year = {2014}, month = {2014 Sep}, pages = {308-15}, abstract = {

We analyzed the possible association between human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) genetic variants, supposed to regulate HLA-G expression, and the susceptibility to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as its clinical manifestations. The 5{\textquoteright}upstream regulatory region (5{\textquoteright}URR) and 3{\textquoteright}untranslated region (3{\textquoteright}UTR) regions of the HLA-G gene were screened in 127 RA patients and 128 controls: 10 5{\textquoteright}URR and 3 3{\textquoteright}UTR HLA-G polymorphisms as well as two haplotypes were associated with risk for RA development, while a polymorphism in the 5{\textquoteright}URR showed an association with the degree of disease activity. These findings, although the number of cases analyzed is limited and the P-values are modest, indicate a possible association between HLA-G gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to develop RA disease and its severity.

}, keywords = {3{\textquoteright} Untranslated Regions, 5{\textquoteright} Flanking Region, Aged, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Brazil, Disease Progression, DNA Mutational Analysis, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Haplotypes, HLA-G Antigens, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk}, issn = {1399-0039}, doi = {10.1111/tan.12396}, author = {Catamo, E and Addobbati, C and Segat, L and Sotero Fragoso, T and Domingues Barbosa, A and Tavares Dantas, A and de Ata{\'\i}de Mariz, H and F da Rocha, L and Branco Pinto Duarte, A L and Monasta, L and Sandrin-Garcia, P and Crovella, S} } @article {1869, title = {Association of MBL2 gene exon 1 variants with autoimmune thyroid disease in Brazilian patients.}, journal = {Int J Immunogenet}, volume = {39}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Aug}, pages = {357-61}, abstract = {

We investigated the association between MBL2 gene exon 1 functional polymorphisms and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in 163 Brazilian patients (87 with Hashimoto thyroiditis, HT; 76 with Graves{\textquoteright} disease) and 214 healthy controls. Individuals carrying MBL2 O allele are at higher risk of developing AITD (OR = 1.58, 95\% CI: 1.11-2.26; P-value = 0.009) and HT (OR = 1.67, 95\% CI: 1.09-2.55; P-value = 0.013) as suggesting a possible role for mannose-binding lectin in influencing disease susceptibility.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Brazil, Case-Control Studies, Child, Child, Preschool, Exons, Female, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genetic Testing, Graves Disease, Hashimoto Disease, Humans, Infant, Male, Mannose-Binding Lectin, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Young Adult}, issn = {1744-313X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1744-313X.2012.01102.x}, author = {Filho, C B and Rodrigues, F F and Segat, L and Fonseca, A M and Araujo, J and Arahata, C and Pontes, L and Vilar, L and de Lima Filho, J L and Crovella, S} } @article {1880, title = {CD14 polymorphisms correlate with an augmented risk for celiac disease in Italian patients.}, journal = {Genes Immun}, volume = {13}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Sep}, pages = {489-95}, abstract = {

Celiac disease (CD) is a T-cell-mediated chronic inflammatory disease characterized by autoimmune, immunological and environmental components, where genetic factors in addition to the main known risk factors (gliadin and human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ haplotypes) are supposed to be involved. CD14 is a multifunctional receptor involved in the bacterial lipopolysaccharides-dependent signal transduction. The CD14 gene maps on the long arm of chromosome 5 (5q22-q32), a {\textquoteright}hotbed{\textquoteright} region for CD; promoter polymorphisms are known to influence its expression. In this study we analyzed three CD14 promoter polymorphisms (c.-1359G>T, c.-1145A>G and c.-159C>T, ) in 938 CD Italian patients and 533 healthy controls, with known HLA-DQ haplotypes, with the aim of evaluating their possible association with the disease. The c.-1145A>G G and c.-159C>T T alleles (as well as the combination of the two alleles in the GT haplotype), were identified as susceptibility factors for CD development, being significantly more frequent in CD patients than in healthy controls. This association was also confirmed when the analysis was restricted to only those subjects characterized by HLA-DQ risk haplotypes. Our results indicate the involvement of CD14 gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to CD.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Antigens, CD14, Case-Control Studies, Celiac Disease, Child, Child, Preschool, European Continental Ancestry Group, Female, Gene Frequency, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Haplotypes, HLA Antigens, Humans, Infant, Italy, Linkage Disequilibrium, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk Factors, Young Adult}, issn = {1476-5470}, doi = {10.1038/gene.2012.23}, author = {Catamo, E and Segat, L and Lenarduzzi, S and Petix, V and Morgutti, M and Crovella, S} } @article {1870, title = {Functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the DEFB1 gene are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in Southern Brazilians.}, journal = {Lupus}, volume = {21}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 May}, pages = {625-31}, abstract = {

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that results in inflammation and tissue damage. The etiology of SLE remains unknown, but recent studies have shown that the innate immune system may have a role in SLE pathogenesis through the secretion of small cationic peptides named defensins. The aim of the study was to determine the possible involvement in SLE of three functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (c.-52G>A, c.-44C>G and c.-20G>A) in the 5{\textquoteright}UTR region of DEFB1 gene, by analyzing them in a population of 139 SLE patients and 288 healthy controls. The c.-52G>A SNP showed significant differences in allele and genotype frequency distribution between SLE patients and controls (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively) indicating protection against SLE (A allele, OR = 0.68, AA genotype OR = 0.51). Significant differences were also observed for c.-44C>G SNP, the C/G genotype being associated with susceptibility to SLE (OR = 1.60, p = 0.04). Moreover, statistically significant differences between patients and controls were found for two DEFB1 haplotypes (GCA and GGG, p = 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively). When considering DEFB1 SNPs and SLE clinical and laboratory manifestations, significant association was found with neuropsychiatric disorders, immunological alterations and anti-DNA antibodies. In conclusion, our results evidence a possible role for the c.-52G>A and c.-44C>G DEFB1 polymorphisms in SLE pathogenesis, that can be considered as possible risk factors for development of disease and disease-related clinical manifestations. Additional studies are needed, to corroborate these results as well as functional studies to understand the biological role of these SNPs in the pathogenesis of SLE.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Aged, beta-Defensins, Brazil, Case-Control Studies, Female, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Genotype, Haplotypes, Humans, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic, Male, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk Factors, Young Adult}, issn = {1477-0962}, doi = {10.1177/0961203312436858}, author = {Sandrin-Garcia, P and Brand{\~a}o, L A C and Guimar{\~a}es, R L and Pancoto, J A T and Donadi, E A and Lima-Filho, J L de and Segat, L and Crovella, S} } @article {1900, title = {HLA-G 14bp del/ins genetic variation: association with susceptibility to human immunodeficiency virus-1 vertical transmission but not with human immunodeficiency virus-1 infection through horizontal transmission.}, journal = {Tissue Antigens}, volume = {80}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Jul}, pages = {12-3}, keywords = {Ethnic Groups, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, HIV Infections, HIV-1, HLA-G Antigens, Humans, INDEL Mutation, Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical, Polymorphism, Genetic}, issn = {1399-0039}, doi = {10.1111/j.1399-0039.2012.01874.x}, author = {Segat, L and Crovella, S} } @article {1812, title = {Mannose-binding lectin and MBL-associated serine protease-2 gene polymorphisms in a Brazilian population from Rio de Janeiro.}, journal = {Int J Immunogenet}, volume = {39}, year = {2012}, month = {2012 Feb}, pages = {32-8}, abstract = {

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a protein able to bind to carbohydrate patterns on pathogen membranes; upon MBL binding, its{\textquoteright} associated serine protease MBL-associated serine protease type 2 (MASP2) is autoactivated, promoting the activation of complement via the lectin pathway. For both MBL2 and MASP2 genes, the frequencies of polymorphisms are extremely variable between different ethnicities, and this aspect has to be carefully considered when performing genetic studies. While polymorphisms in the MBL-encoding gene (MBL2) have been associated, depending upon ethnicity, with several diseases in different populations, little is known about the distribution of MASP2 gene polymorphisms in human populations. The aim of our study was thus to determine the frequencies of MBL2 (exon 1 and promoter) and MASP2 (p.D371Y) polymorphisms in a Brazilian population from Rio de Janeiro. A total of 294 blood donor samples were genotyped for 27 polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene by direct sequencing of a region spanning from the promoter polymorphism H/L rs11003125 to the rs1800451 polymorphism (at codon 57 in the first exon of the gene). Genotyping for MASP2 p.D371Y was carried out using fluorogenic probes. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the prevalence of the MASP2 p.D371Y polymorphism in a Brazilian population. The C allele frequency 39\% is something intermediate between the reported 14\% in Europeans and 90\% in Sub-Saharan Africans. MBL2 polymorphisms frequencies were quite comparable to those previously reported for admixed Brazilians. Both MBL2 and MASP2 polymorphisms frequencies reported in our study for the admixed Brazilian population are somehow intermediate between those reported in Europeans and Africans, reflecting the ethnic composition of the southern Brazilian population, estimated to derive from an admixture of Caucasian (31\%), African (34\%) and Native American (33\%) populations. In conclusion, our population genetic study describes the frequencies of MBL2 and MASP2 functional SNPs in a population from Rio de Janeiro, with the aim of adding new information concerning the distribution of these SNPs in a previously unanalysed Brazilian population, thus providing a new genetic tool for the evaluation of the association of MBL2 and MASP2 functional SNPs with diseases in Brazil, with particular emphasis on the state of Rio de Janeiro.

}, keywords = {Adolescent, Adult, Brazil, Ethnic Groups, Exons, Female, Fluorescent Dyes, Gene Frequency, Genetics, Population, Genome, Human, HapMap Project, Humans, Male, Mannose-Binding Lectin, Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases, Middle Aged, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Promoter Regions, Genetic, Sequence Analysis, DNA, Young Adult}, issn = {1744-313X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1744-313X.2011.01052.x}, author = {Ferraroni, N R and Segat, L and Guimar{\~a}es, R L and Brand{\~a}o, L A C and Crovella, S and Constantino-Silva, R N and Loja, C and da Silva Duarte, A J and Grumach, A S} } @article {1601, title = {MBL2 polymorphisms and the choice of controls for association studies: just another story?}, journal = {Int J Immunogenet}, volume = {38}, year = {2011}, month = {2011 Apr}, pages = {101-4; author reply 105-8}, keywords = {Antibodies, Brazil, Control Groups, Gene Frequency, Genetic Association Studies, Genetic Heterogeneity, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Hepatitis C, Humans, Mannose-Binding Lectin, Polymorphism, Genetic, Thyroid Gland}, issn = {1744-313X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1744-313X.2010.00981.x}, author = {Segat, L and Crovella, S} } @article {1702, title = {Analysis of DEFB1 regulatory SNPs in cystic fibrosis patients from North-Eastern Italy.}, journal = {Int J Immunogenet}, volume = {37}, year = {2010}, month = {2010 Jun}, pages = {169-75}, abstract = {

Cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane regulator protein (CFTR) gene is undoubtedly the main genetic factor involved in the modulation of CF phenotype. However, other factors such as human defensins and the genes encoding for these antimicrobial peptides have been hypothesized as possible modifiers influencing airways infection in CF patients, but their role in the pathogenesis of lung disease is still debated. Since DEFB1 gene encoding for human beta-defensin 1 displays features such as antimicrobial or chemotactic activity playing a role in inflammation, it has been considered as a possible candidate CF modifier gene. We analysed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5{\textquoteright}-untranslated region of the DEFB1 gene (namely g-52G>A, g-44C>G and g-20G>A) in a group of 62 CF patients from North Eastern Italy, and in 130 healthy controls, with the aim of verifying the possible association of these functional SNPs with the pulmonary phenotype of CF patients. DEFB1 SNPs have been genotyped by using Taqman allele-specific fluorescent probes and a real-time PCR platform. No significant differences were found for allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of DEFB1 g-52G>A, g-44C>G and g-20G>A SNPs in CF patients stratified for Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, as well as in patients with a severe and mild clinical phenotype or in patients stratified for CFTR genotypes. DEFB1 allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies of CF patients globally considered were similar to those of healthy controls. Our findings are discordant with respect to another recent study performed on CF patients coming from Southern Italy, probably due to different ethnicity of the patients.

}, keywords = {5{\textquoteright} Untranslated Regions, Adolescent, Alleles, beta-Defensins, Case-Control Studies, Child, Child, Preschool, Chronic Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator, Female, Gene Frequency, Genotype, Haplotypes, Humans, Immunity, Innate, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Italy, Male, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Pseudomonas Infections}, issn = {1744-313X}, doi = {10.1111/j.1744-313X.2010.00907.x}, author = {Segat, L and Morgutti, M and Athanasakis, E and Trevisiol, C and Amaddeo, A and Poli, F and Crovella, S} }