Is human Dectin-1 Y238X gene polymorphism related to susceptibility to recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?

N Zahedi; S Abedian Kenari; S Mohseni; N Aslani; S Ansari; H Badali

doi:10.18869/acadpub.cmm.2.3.15

Is human Dectin-1 Y238X gene polymorphism related to susceptibility to recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Curr Med Mycol. 2016 Sep;2(3):15-19. doi: 10.18869/acadpub.cmm.2.3.15.

Authors

N Zahedi^{1

2}, S Abedian Kenari³, S Mohseni⁴, N Aslani^{1

2}, S Ansari⁵, H Badali^{2

6}

Affiliations

¹ Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
² Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
³ Immunogenetics Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
⁴ Department of Microbiology, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran.
⁵ Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
⁶ Invasive Fungi Research Centre (IFRC), School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a frequent disease affecting approximately more than %75 of all childbearing women at least once in their lifetime by overgrowth of opportunistic Candida species. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is common in otherwise healthy individuals. Several risk factors were reported to contribute to RVVC susceptibility. A polymorphism in Dectin-1 (Y238X, rs16910526 ) was identified in patients with RVVC and hypothesized that genetic factors play an important role in susceptibility to RVVC. Herein, we aimed to survey the polymorphisms in the Dectin-1 gene, linked to susceptibility to RVVC.

Materials and methods: In the current study, blood samples were obtained from 25 patients who had frequent vulvovaginal candidiasis relapses and were diagnosed as RVVC. In addition, blood cultures were obtained from control group comprising of healthy individuals (n=25) with no history of RVVC, vaginal discharge, or itching on the day of examination. Dectin-1 Y238X gene polymorphism was investigated using Bi-PASA and DNA sequencing.

Results: The analysis revealed that all of the patients were wild-type homozygous for Dectin-1 Y238X polymorphisms. None of the individuals showed heterozygous or mutant homozygous Dectin-1 polymorphism.

Conclusion: No significant correlations were observed between the susceptibility to RVVC and Dectin-1 Y238X polymorphism in the Iranian population, which was not previously studied.

Keywords: Candida species; Dectin-1 Y238X gene polymorphism; RVVC.