The Clinical Value of Ficolin-3 Gene Polymorphism in Rheumatic Heart Disease. An Egyptian Adolescents Study

Abstract

Objective: Ficolin-3 is one of the innate immunity molecules that was thought to play a pivotal role in Streptococcus pyogenes autoimmunity and its complications; rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). We aimed to disclose if there is an association between ficolin-3 (FCN3) gene polymorphisms (rs4494157 and rs10794501) and RF with or without RHD for the first time in Egyptian adolescents. Results: Serum ficolin-3 level was significantly elevated in patients suffering from RF with and without RHD in comparison with control. Regarding FCN3 gene (rs4494157) polymorphism, a significant correlation was found between the A allele and the susceptibility to RF with or without RHD (OR=2.93, P=0.0002 and OR=2.23, P=0.008 respectively). Besides, AA homozygous genotype showed a significant association with RHD risk (OR=3.47, P=0.026). Patients carrying the A allele (CA+AA) had significantly higher serum ficolin-3 than those carrying the CC genotype (P˂ 0.0001). While the frequency of (rs10794501) polymorphism revealed no significant differences between the controls and RF patients with or without RHD (OR=1.43, P=0.261 and OR=1.48, P=0.208 respectively).