Journal Article

Association of PTX3 gene polymorphisms and PTX3 plasma levels with leprosy susceptibility

Armstrong, Anderson da Costa, de Souza, Carlos Dornels Freire, Barbosa, Milena Xavier Silva, do Carmo, Rodrigo Feliciano, de Andrade, Lorena Viana, da Luz, Renata Clesia Feitosa Viana, Fernandes, André Luís Magalhães, Moraes, Ana Clara Cadidé Gonzaga

2023

Overview

Background Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a soluble pattern recognition receptor that plays a crucial role in modulating the inflammatory response and activating the complement system. Additionally, plasma PTX3 has emerged as a potential biomarker for various infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of PTX3 gene polymorphisms and PTX3 plasma levels with susceptibility to leprosy and clinical characteristics. Methods Patients with leprosy from a hyperendemic area in the Northeast Region of Brazil were included. Healthy household contacts and healthy blood donors from the same geographical area were recruited as a control group. The rs1840680 and rs2305619 polymorphisms of PTX3 were determined by real-time PCR. Plasma levels of PTX3 were determined by ELISA. Results A total of 512 individuals were included. Of these, 273 were patients diagnosed with leprosy; 53 were household contacts, and 186 were healthy blood donors. No association was observed between PTX3 polymorphisms and susceptibility to leprosy or development of leprosy reaction or physical disability. On the other hand, plasma levels of PTX3 were significantly higher in patients with leprosy when compared to household contacts ( p  = 0.003) or blood donors ( p  = 0.04). It was also observed that PTX3 levels drop significantly after multidrug therapy ( p  < 0.0001). Conclusions Our results suggest that PTX3 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of leprosy and point to the potential use of this molecule as an infection marker.

• Publisher: BioMed Central,BioMed Central Ltd,Springer Nature B.V,BMC
• Subject: Amino acids / Analysis / Biomarkers / Blood / Blood & organ donations / Blood donors / C-reactive protein / C-Reactive Protein - analysis / C-Reactive Protein - genetics / Care and treatment / Complement system / Development and progression / Drug Therapy, Combination / Erythema / Gene polymorphism / Genetic aspects / Genetic engineering / Genetic polymorphisms / Health aspects / Households / Humans / Immune response / Infectious Diseases / Inflammation / Inflammatory response / Internal Medicine / Leprostatic Agents / Leprosy / Leprosy - genetics / Measurement / Medical Microbiology / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Parasitology / Pathogenesis / Pattern recognition / Pattern recognition receptors / Pentraxin / Pentraxins / Plasma / Plasma levels / Polymorphism / Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / SNP / Software / Statistical analysis / Transplants & implants / Tropical diseases / Tropical Medicine / Tuberculosis