Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 25, 2026

DNA Fingerprinting of Mycobacterium leprae Strains Using Variable Number Tandem Repeat (VNTR) - Fragment Length Analysis (FLA)
Published on: July 15, 2011
NINJURIN1 single nucleotide polymorphism and nerve damage in leprosy
Carla R Graça1, Vânia D A Paschoal, Rosa M Cordeiro-Soubhia
1Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. cgraca@hotmail.com
Unlabelled:
Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, can damage the peripheral nervous system and represents one of the leading causes of nontraumatic neuropathy in some developing countries. The NINJURIN1 is a cell adhesion molecule that provides suitable substrates for repair of Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury. The single nucleotide polymorphism NINJ1, is the result of a transversion of an adenine to a nucleotide polymorphic cytokine (A→C), responsible for an amino acid exchange of asparagine to alanine at position 110 of the protein (asp110ala).
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate the importance of the polymorphism in the NINJ1 gene for neural impairment during leprosy course.
Methods:
A single nucleotide polymorphism (asp110ala) was searched in 218 leprosy patients and 244 non-leprosy subjects using a polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method.
Results:
No statistical differences were observed in the frequency of the asp110ala SNP between leprosy patients versus non-leprosy and multibacillary versus paucibacillary clinical forms. The C allele (ala110) is increased among patients exhibiting nerve impairment (p=0.0379). Also, leprosy patients with the CC genotype (ala/ala) had a higher risk (OR=4.21) of developing nerve disability when compared those carrying the AA genotype (asp/asp) (OR=0.69).
Conclusion:
Our results show an association between the studied C allele (ala110) and damage nerve in leprosy patients.
Significance:
Ninjurin analysis showed that asp110ala could be a valuable prognostic marker, since C allele (ala110) have increased susceptibility to nerve damage.
More Related Videos
09:34Targeted Next-generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics Pipeline to Evaluate Genetic Determinants of Constitutional Disease
Published on: April 4, 2018
09:33Genetic Profiling and Genome-Scale Dropout Screening to Identify Therapeutic Targets in Mouse Models of Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor
Published on: August 25, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Nucleotide Excision Repair
Nucleotide Excision Repair
Cells are regularly exposed to mutagens—factors in the environment that can damage DNA and generate mutations. UV radiation is one of the most common mutagens and is estimated to introduce a significant number of changes in DNA. These include bends or kinks in the structure, which can block DNA replication or transcription. If these errors are not fixed, the damage can cause mutations, which in turn can result in cancer or disease depending on which sequences are...
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms-SNPs
Non-LTR Retrotransposons
Local Anesthetics: Differential Sensitivity of Nerve Fibers