Association between TLR2/TLR4 gene polymorphisms and COPD phenotype in aGreek cohort.

Abstract

Considering that the innate immune system plays apivotal role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), we hypothesized that functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of innate immune genes affect the disease phenotype and prognosis. To elucidate the contribution of common functional TLR2 and TLR4 SNPs and genotypic deficiency of the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) protein, both as single parameters and in combination, in Greek COPD patients. In acohort of 114 Greek COPD patients, we confirmed that the presence of TLR4-D299G or TLR4-T399I SNPs was significantly associated with an earlier COPD stage (p= 0.003 and p= 0.009, respectively). In comparison, the absence of any analyzed polymorphism, including those of TLR2-R753Q and genotypic MBL deficiency, was significantly associated with amore severe disease phenotype, characterized by more frequent exacerbations (p= 0.045). Our findings support the notion that the presence of innate immune SNPs, such as functional polymorphisms of TLRs along with MBL deficiency, might exert aprotective effect on the COPD phenotype, similar with other immune-mediated disorders.