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Published on: August 7, 2017

Association of surfactant protein A polymorphisms with otitis media in infants at risk for asthma

Melinda M Pettigrew1, Janneane F Gent, Yong Zhu

  • 1Yale Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. melinda.pettigrew@yale.edu

BMC Medical Genetics
|August 4, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Genetic variations in surfactant protein A (SP-A) may influence the risk of otitis media in infants. Specifically, certain SP-A gene polymorphisms showed a protective effect against middle ear infections in white infants.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Genetics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Otitis media is a frequent childhood infection.
  • Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is crucial for innate immunity and infection prevention.
  • Infant susceptibility to infections is linked to early-life immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between SP-A gene polymorphisms and the risk of otitis media in infants.
  • To explore the role of SP-A in early-life immune defense against middle ear infections.
  • To evaluate candidate gene polymorphisms in infants at risk for asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective cohort study design.
  • Candidate gene approach focusing on SP-A loci.
  • Data collection via questionnaires and quarterly infant respiratory symptom interviews.
  • Genotyping of 355 infants with complete otitis media data.

Main Results:

  • SP-A gene polymorphisms were identified at specific codons (19, 62, 133 in SP-A1; 223 in SP-A2).
  • These polymorphisms showed associations with race/ethnicity.
  • The 6A4/1A5 SP-A haplotype demonstrated a protective effect against otitis media in white infants (OR 0.23).

Conclusions:

  • SP-A gene polymorphisms may be associated with otitis media risk in white infants.
  • Further research is needed to confirm these findings across diverse ethnic groups.
  • SP-A's role in otitis media warrants continued investigation.
Abstract

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