Ficolin-3 and MASP-2 gene variants in Siberian arctic populations: Summarized evidence of selective pressure for the high frequency of lectin complement pathway deficiency

Herewith, we provide novel original data about the prevalence of FCN3 rs532781899 and MASP2 rs72550870 variants among the newborns of aboriginal Siberian Arctic populations (Nenets and Dolgan-Nganasans) and Russians of East Siberia. This novel data has been analysed along with the genetic data about other proteins of the lectin pathway of the complement system (mannose-binding lectin and ficolin-2) obtained earlier. A total of 926 specimens of dried blood spots of the newborns were genotyped. The newborns represented four populations: Nenets, Dolgan-Nganasans, Mixed aboriginal population, and Russians (Caucasians) to study the prevalence of single nucleotide polymorphisms of FCN3 rs532781899 and MASP2 rs72550870. The prevalence of the deletion allele of the rs532781899 variant in the FCN3 gene associated with the decreased production of ficolin-3 was found to be increased in Russians compared to the Nenets aboriginal populations (P = .002). The prevalence of the rs72550870*G allele in the MASP2 gene associated with low serum protease activity was found to be increased in Russians compared with Nenets and Dolgan-Nganasans (P < .001 and P = .03, respectively). The results of the current study and our previous findings corroborate with a hypothesis that human evolution has been directed toward the accumulation of genotypes associated with low activity of the lectin complement activation pathway.