Relationship between myeloid differentiation 2 gene polymorphisms and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between myeloid differentiation (MD-2) gene polymorphisms and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in neonates.Methods A gene-sequencing method was used to re-sequence the exons and the promoter functional polymorphism region (rs11465996) of MD-2 gene of 42 NEC neonates admitted in neonatal intensive care unit of Women and Children's Medical Center,Guangzhou Medical University from June 1,2011 to May 31,2012.These functional polymorphism loci were compared with 83 non NEC cases.The Chi square test was used for statistical analysis.Results No polymorphism was detected in the exons of MD-2 gene in any of the 42 cases of NEC.The C-1625G polymorphism [rs11465996 (C＞G)] was identified in both the NEC and control groups,and there were two genotypes,C/C and C/G.The frequency ofC/G genotype in the NEC group (38.1％,16/42) did not differ significantly compared to that in the control group (30.1％,25/83) (x2=0.805,P=0.370).However,the frequency of C/G genotype in severe NEC cases (operation group) (55.0％,11/20) was significantly higher than that in the control group (x2=4.388,P=0.036).Among the NEC group,the frequency of C/G genotype in operation cases and term infants was higher than that of the non-operation cases and preterm infants,although the differences were not significant (x2=3.343,P=0.067; xx2=0.913,P=0.339).Conclusions The polymorphisms in the exons of MD-2 gene are not associated with the development of NEC.The rs 1 1465996 polymorphism (G allele) in the promoter region may be related to the severity of NEC. Key words: Enterocolitis, necrotizing; Lymphocyte antigen 96; Polymorphism, genetic; Infant, newborn