Evaluation of VDR gene polymorphisms in Trypanosoma cruzi infection and chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy

Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 9:6:31263. doi: 10.1038/srep31263.

Abstract

Vitamin D is an important modulator of the immune response. It acts over several immune cell types where the Vitamin D receptor (VDR) is expressed. Due to the high relevance of this signaling pathway, several studies have investigated the possible influence of genes involved in the metabolism of Vitamin D and its receptor in different human diseases. Here, we analyzed whether four single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the VDR gene (rs731236, rs7975232, rs1544410 and rs2228570) are involved in the susceptibility to infection by Trypanosoma cruzi and/or to chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) in a Colombian endemic population for this parasite. Our results showed that the rs2228570*A allele is associated with CCC development (P = 4.46E-03, OR = 1.51). In summary, the data presented in this report suggest that variation within the VDR gene may affect the immune response against T. cruzi, increasing the probability of cardiac complications in infected individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Cardiomyopathies / complications
  • Cardiomyopathies / genetics*
  • Cardiomyopathies / parasitology
  • Chagas Disease / complications
  • Chagas Disease / genetics*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Colombia
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genotype
  • Homeostasis
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Receptors, Calcitriol / genetics*
  • Regression Analysis
  • Risk
  • Trypanosoma cruzi

Substances

  • Receptors, Calcitriol
  • VDR protein, human