Association of IFITM3 rs12252 polymorphisms, BMI, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia with mild flu in an Iranian population
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Published on: March 24, 2017
Parvaneh Mehrbod1, Sana Eybpoosh2, Fatemeh Fotouhi1
1Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
Background:
IFITM3 has been suggested to be associated with infection in some ethnic groups. Diabetes and hypercholesterolemia are also important clinical conditions that can predispose individuals to infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of rs12252 C polymorphism, BMI, diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia with mild flu in an Iranian population.
Methods:
We conducted a case-control study, including 79 mild flu and 125 flu-negative individuals attending primary care centers of three provinces of Iran (i.e, Markazi, Semnan, and Zanjan). Pharyngeal swab specimens were collected from all participants, and were subjected to RNA and DNA extractions for Real-time PCR and PCR tests. All PCR products were then sequenced to find T/C polymorphisms in the rs12252 region. Data on demographic, anthropometric, and clinical variables were collected from participants' medical records available in the primary care centers. The data was analyzed using DNASIS (v. 2.5) and Stata (v.11) software.
Results:
All participants were of Fars ethnic background. The allele frequency for rs12252-C was found to be 9.49% among cases and 2.40% among controls. Carriers of the rs12252 C allele (CT + CC genotypes) showed 5.92 folds increase in the risk of mild flu comparing to the T allele homozygotes (P value: 0.007). We also found a significant positive association between rs12252 C allele heterozygote and mild flu (OR: 7.62, P value: 0.008), but not in C allele homozygote group (OR: 2.71, P value: 0.406). Similarly, we did not find a significant association between mild flu and BMI (OR: 1.06, P value: 0.087), diabetes (OR: 0.61, P value: 0.392), and hypercholesterolemia (OR: 0.50, P value: 0.393) in multivariable logistic regression.
Conclusions:
This is the first study evaluating the association between rs12252 polymorphisms, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, and BMI and susceptibility to mild flu in an Iranian population. Our results suggest a significant positive association between mild flu and rs12252 C allele heterozygous and carriage. Future replication of the strong association observed here between rs12252 C allele carriage and mild flu might candidate this polymorphism as a genetic marker for early screening of susceptibility to mild flu. Lack of significant association between C allele homozygous and mild flu, observed in this study, might be the result of small sample size in this group.
Trial Registration:
IR.PII.REC.1395.3.
Insights
The rs12252 C allele is linked to a higher risk of mild flu in Iranians. This genetic marker may aid in early susceptibility screening for mild flu.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) gene polymorphisms are implicated in infection susceptibility.
- Diabetes and hypercholesterolemia are known risk factors for infections.
- Investigating genetic and clinical factors for mild flu in the Iranian population is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the association between the rs12252 C polymorphism, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, and hypercholesterolemia with mild flu susceptibility.
- To evaluate the rs12252 T/C polymorphism in the Iranian population.
- To identify potential genetic markers for mild flu risk.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 79 mild flu cases and 125 controls from Iran.
- Real-time PCR and sequencing were used to determine rs12252 T/C genotypes.
- Data on clinical and demographic variables were collected and analyzed using statistical software.
Main Results:
- The allele frequency for rs12252-C was 9.49% in cases and 2.40% in controls.
- Carriage of the rs12252 C allele (CT + CC genotypes) significantly increased mild flu risk (5.92-fold increase, P=0.007).
- A significant association was found between rs12252 C allele heterozygosity and mild flu (OR=7.62, P=0.008), but not homozygosity.
Conclusions:
- This study is the first to link rs12252 polymorphism to mild flu in Iranians.
- Mild flu is significantly associated with rs12252 C allele heterozygosity and carriage.
- The rs12252 polymorphism may serve as a genetic marker for mild flu susceptibility screening.
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