Relevance of the genetic polymorphism of NOD1 in Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositive stroke patients

Eur J Neurol. 2009 Nov;16(11):1224-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02698.x. Epub 2009 Jun 15.

Abstract

Background and purpose: Chronic infections with certain pathogens, such as Chlamydia pneumoniae, and genetic parameters that influence inflammatory reactions have been suggested to contribute to ischaemic stroke. NOD1 is a potent cytosolic receptor for C. pneumoniae. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic polymorphism of NOD1 from the aspect of the development of stroke.

Materials and methods: A total of 280 patients with ischaemic stroke were enrolled in the study; 150 healthy blood donors served as controls. The G796A (E266K) NOD1 polymorphism was determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism. Chlamydia pneumoniae seropositivity was tested by ELISA.

Results: There was a significant difference in NOD1 G796A genotype distribution between the controls and the stroke patients with C. pneumoniae seropositivity. The AA homozygote and GA heterozygote mutant variants were detected in 16% (25 of 152) and in 50% (77 of 152) of the C. pneumoniae-positive stroke patients, as compared with 8% (6 of 84), and 28% (24 of 84), respectively, in the C. pneumoniae-positive healthy controls. (OR = 2.559; 95% CI = 1.105-6.517, P = 0.04 and OR = 2.567; 95% CI = 1.451-4.540 P < 0.001, respectively). The stroke patients with the large vessel pathology exhibited the highest frequency of the mutant allele A (51%). In contrast, amongst the C. pneumoniae-negative subjects, no difference in genotype frequency was observed between the stroke patients and the controls.

Conclusion: Polymorphism in NOD1 G796A alone did not prove to be a risk factor for stroke in general, but in association with C. pneumoniae infection it appeared to be accompanied by an increased risk of the development of stroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Chlamydophila Infections / complications*
  • Chlamydophila Infections / genetics
  • Chlamydophila pneumoniae / genetics
  • Chronic Disease
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Stroke / complications*
  • Stroke / genetics

Substances

  • NOD1 protein, human
  • Nod1 Signaling Adaptor Protein