Genetic association of MBL-2 gene polymorphisms with Filarial chyluria

Lymphatic filariasis has become a significant public health issue in North India. The association of polymorphisms in MBL2 gene with filarial chyluria (FC) is evaluated in the North Indian patients for the first time. Hence, a tertiary care hospital based case-control study was conducted in north India where FC is endemic. Therefore, 186 confirmed patients of FC as cases and 210 age-, sex- and residence-matched subjects as controls were enrolled for the study. Filarial etiology was confirmed using diethylcarbamazine (DEC)-provocation test, immune chromatographic test and IgG/IgM antibody test. MBL2 gene polymorphisms at codon 54 and -221 promoter region were genotyped by PCR followed by RFLP. Wild-type, heterozygous and homozygous mutant frequencies of MBL2 genotype at the codon 54 were 57.5%, 32.8% and 9.7% in the case group and 62.9%, 30.5% and 6.7%, in controls, respectively. The same at the -221 position were 51.1%, 44.1% and 4.8% in FC patients and 44.3%, 40.0% and 15.7% in controls, respectively. Thus, results no significant association between MBL2 polymorphism at codon 54 and FC. However, polymorphism at the -221 promoter region is linked with FC with a significant odd-ratio of 0.27 (confidence interval at 95% was 0.12-0.59; p<0.001). This preliminary finding is intriguing for further confirmation using a larger study with more patients.