Association of single nucleotide polymorphism of CDHR3 gene with lower respiratory tract rhinovirus infection in children: analysis of 200 cases

Abstract

Objective To explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at rs6967330 of cadherin-associated family member 3 (CDHR3) gene with acute respiratory tract infection caused by human rhinoviruses (HRVs) in children. Methods From January, 2012 to November, 2014, we collected specimens of nasopharyngeal aspirates from 200 children with acute lower respiratory tract infection caused by HRVs. CDHR3 gene fragment was amplified by PCR from the samples and sequenced for rs6967330 genotyping. The VP4 gene of HRV was amplified with PCR for subsequent sequencing, and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to estimate the virus load. The correlation between rs6967330 genotypes and the clinical features of the children was analyzed. Results Of the 200 children with acute lower respiratory tract infection caused by HRVs, 30 (15.0%) had AA/AG genotype and 170 (85.0%) had GG genotype of rs6967330. The children with AA/AG genotype were more likely to have wheezing symptoms than those with GG genotype (86.7% vs 57.1%, P=0.002), and were also more susceptible to severe pneumonia (30.0% vs 11.2%, P=0.018); the first-degree relatives of the children with AA/AG genotype were also more likely to have a history of atopic diseases(16.7% vs 5.88%, P=0.039). Logistic regression analysis revealed that rs6967330 A was a risk factor for wheezing in children with HRV infection (OR: 4.585, 95% CI: 1.446~14.541, P=0.010) and also for progression into severe cases (OR: 3.379, 95% CI: 1.009~11.315, P=0.048). No significant differences in HRV subtypes or viral loads were found between the children with different genotypes of rs6967330. Conclusion The SNP of CDHR3 gene at rs6967330 may be associated with severe cases and wheezing after lower respiratory tract infection with HRV in children.

Keywords

• cdhr3 gene
• single nucleotide polymorphism
• human rhinovirus