LNC-ZNF33B-2:1 gene rs579501 polymorphism is associated with organ dysfunction and death risk in pediatric sepsis

Background: Sepsis is a severe systemic reaction disease induced by bacteria and virus invading the bloodstream and subsequently causing multiple systemic organ dysfunctions. For example, the kidney may stop producing urine, or the lungs may stop taking in oxygen. Recent studies have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are related to the dysfunction of organs in sepsis. This study aims to screen and validate the sepsis-associated lncRNAs and their functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Result: Unconditional multiple logistic regression based on the recessive model (adjusted odds ratio = 2.026, 95% CI = 1.156-3.551, p = 0.0136) showed that patients with the CC genotype of rs579501 had increased risk of sepsis. Stratification analysis by age and gender indicated that patients with the rs579501 CC genotype had higher risk of sepsis among children aged <12 months (adjusted odds ratio = 2.638, 95% CI = 1.167-5.960, p = 0.0197) and in male patients (adjusted odds ratio = 2.232, 95% CI = 1.127-4.421, p = 0.0213). We also found a significant relationship between rs579501 and severe sepsis risk (CC versus AA/AC: adjusted odds ratio = 2.466, 95% CI = 1.346-4.517, p = 0.0035). Stratification analysis for prognosis and number of organ dysfunctions demonstrated that the rs579501 CC genotype increased non-survivors' risk (adjusted odds ratio = 2.827, 95% CI = 1.159-6.898, p = 0.0224) and one to two organs with dysfunction risk (adjusted odds ratio = 2.253, 95% CI = 1.011-5.926, p = 0.0472). Conclusion: Our findings showed that the lnc-ZNF33B-2:1 rs579501 CC genotype increases the susceptibility to sepsis. From the medical perspective, the lnc-ZNF33B-2:1 rs579501 CC genotype could be serving as a biochemical marker for sepsis.