Effects of Collagen Gene Polymorphisms on Tendon And Ligament Inflammations in Japanese Male Endurance Athletes.

Abstract

In endurance athletes, chronic mechanical stress to tendon and ligament induces local inflammation, leading to tendon and ligament injuries. Type 1, 5 and 12 collagen is the major structural component of tendon and ligament and other component is type 3 and 6 collagen. Several studies were identified the relationship between tendon or ligament injures and collagen gene polymorphisms such as, rs1800012 in COL1A1, rs12722 and rs3196378 in COL5A1, rs1800255 in COL3A1 and rs35796750 in COL6A1. However, effect of tendon and ligament inflammations on collagen-related gene polymorphisms remains unclear in Japanese endurance athletes. PURPOSE: This study aimed to clarify whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the collagen genes were associated with the incidence of tendon and ligament inflammations in Japanese male endurance athletes. METHODS: Twenty-four Japanese elite male long-distance runners participated in a cross-sectional study. All subjects were investigated the onset number of tendon and ligament inflammations in the student period of the university by using a questionnaire. SNPs of rs1800012 in COL1A1 gene, rs12722 and rs3196378 in COL5A1 gene, rs1800255 in COL3A1 gene and rs35796750 in COL6A1 gene were determined by real-time PCR with Taqman probe. RESULTS: All subjects had GG genotype of rs1800012 in COL1A1 gene. The onset number of tendon and ligament inflammations in the student period of the university was significantly higher in CC genotype of rs12722 in COL5A1 gene as compared with CT and TT genotype individuals (P<0.05) and was significantly higher in CC genotype of rs3196378 in COL5A1 gene as compared with CA and AA genotypes individuals (P<0.05). Moreover, the onset number of tendon and ligament inflammations in the AA and AG genotype of rs1800255 in COL3A1 gene was tended to be higher than that in GG genotype individuals (P=0.078). However, the rs35796750 in COL6A1 gene polymorphism had no impact on differences of the onset number of tendon and ligament inflammations. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SNPs of rs12722 and rs3196378 in COL5A1 gene and rs1800255 in COL3A1 gene may affect incidence of tendon and ligament inflammations in Japanese male endurance athletes. Supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (#17H02182 and #16K13059, M. Iemitsu).