Osteopontin, Bone Morphogenetic Protein-4, and Vitamin D Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in the Susceptibility and Clinical Severity of Spinal Tuberculosis

• Main Authors: Guohua Wang, Liangyi Xie, Jianzhong Hu, Hongbin Lu, Xiangyang Liu, Yong Cao, Bin Liu, Yi Zhang, Xiongjie Shen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cell Physiol Biochem Press GmbH & Co KG 2017-04-01
• Series: Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry
• Subjects: Spinal tuberculosis; Bone morphogenetic protein-4; Osteopontin; Vitamin D receptor; Polymorphism; Expression
• Online Access: http://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/471935
• ISSN: 1015-8987; 1421-9778

Background/Aims: Spinal tuberculosis (TB) is a common and dangerous form of extrapulmonary TB with unclear mechanisms in its occurrence and progression. This study investigated the clinical significances of bone morphogenetic protein-4 (BMP-4), osteopontin (OPN), and vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphism, mRNA and protein expression in spinal TB patients. Methods: BMP-4 and OPN gene polymorphisms were detected by direct DNA sequencing, while VDR-FokI polymorphisms were analyzed using PCR-RFLP. mRNA and protein expression was measured using real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Results: A significant lower frequency of TT genotype and T allele at 6007C>T polymorphism in BMP-4 gene; higher frequency of GG genotype and G allele at -66T>G polymorphism in OPN gene, and higher frequency of the ff genotype and f allele at the VDR-FokI polymorphism were observed in patients with spinal TB compared to controls. TT genotype of 6007C>T polymorphism correlated with a lower BMP-4 mRNA and protein expression, -66GG genotype correlated with a high OPN mRNA and protein expression, and ff genotype correlated with the lower VDR mRNA and protein levels in the intervertebral disc tissues. The TT genotype and low BMP-4 gene expression; the -66GG genotype and high OPN gene expression; and the ff genotype and low VDR gene expression significantly correlated with the clinical severity of spinal TB. Conclusion: The 6007C>T polymorphism of BMP-4, -66T>G polymorphism of OPN, and VDR-FokI polymorphism are the susceptible factors of spinal TB and indicators of the clinical severity. These three genes may collaborate in the development of spinal TB.