Susceptibility to chronic mucus hypersecretion, a genome wide association study.

Background: Chronic mucus hypersecretion (CMH) is associated with an increased frequency of respiratory infections, excess lung function decline, and increased hospitalisation and mortality rates in the general population. It is associated with smoking, but it is unknown why only a minority of smokers develops CMH. A plausible explanation for this phenomenon is a predisposing genetic constitution.

CD209 genetic polymorphism and tuberculosis disease.

Background: Tuberculosis causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. DC-SIGN, encoded by CD209, is a receptor capable of binding and internalizing Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Previous studies have reported that the CD209 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-336A/G exerts an effect on CD209 expression and is associated with human susceptibility to dengue, HIV-1 and tuberculosis in humans.

Variation in MICA and MICB genes and enhanced susceptibility to paucibacillary leprosy in South India.

In a study of mainly paucibacillary leprosy-affected sib-pair families from South India, in addition to the expected associations with the HLA-DRB1 locus, we have identified significant association with a functional variant of the MICA gene as well as a microsatellite in the flanking region of the MICB gene. The associations with MICA and MICB cannot be accounted for by linkage disequilibrium with the HLA class II locus indicating a role in genetic susceptibility to leprosy that is independent of HLA-DRB1. Previous studies have shown that MICA and MICB are expressed on the surface of cells in response to infection, where they are recognized by the NKG2D receptor on gammadelta T cells, CD8+ alphabeta T cells and natural killer cells, all of which contribute to defense against mycobacteria.

A polymorphism that reduces RANTES expression is associated with protection from death in HIV-seropositive Ugandans with advanced disease.

We investigated the effect of RANTES polymorphisms on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) disease progression in an urban population of Uganda. HIV-positive individuals homozygous for the INT1.1C polymorphism, which had been associated previously with low RANTES expression, were less likely to die than were those with other genotypes (hazard ratio, 0.

Variants in the SP110 gene are associated with genetic susceptibility to tuberculosis in West Africa.

The sst1 locus has been identified in a mouse model to control resistance and susceptibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Subsequent studies have now identified Ipr1 (intracellular pathogen resistance 1) to be the gene responsible. Ipr1 is encoded within the sst1 locus and is expressed in the tuberculosis lung lesions and macrophages of sst1-resistant, but not sst1-susceptible mice.

A region of chromosome 20 is linked to leprosy susceptibility in a South Indian population.

A major susceptibility locus for leprosy has recently been mapped on chromosome 10 (10p13) by genome-wide linkage analysis. Microsatellite markers from this genome screen that showed suggestive evidence of linkage to leprosy were evaluated in an additional 140 families with affected sib pairs. A second region of linkage has thus been identified on chromosome 20 (20p12).