Expression of SCGB1C1 gene as a potential marker of susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections in elite athletes – a pilot study

Abstract

High levels of exercise in athletes result in temporary immunosuppression, which could increase the susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections. Understanding of immunological mechanisms responsible for this phenomenon could enable optimization of training schemes for elite athletes and avoidance of infection-related episodes of absence during sports championships. The aim of this study was to detect genes that may be responsible for modulation of individual susceptibility to infections. The blood and saliva samples were collected from 10 healthy, medically examined kayakers (4 females and 6 males) aged 24.7 ± 2.3 years. All samples were taken in the morning, after overnight fasting, in a seated position. The ELISA method was used to determine the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) and interleukin 5 (IL-5). Whole genome expression in blood was assessed using microarrays. The study did not reveal any significant correlation between genome expression and sIgA concentration. However, low expression of a gene involved in protection against the common cold – secretoglobin 1C1 (SCGB1C1) – was detected in athletes with high IL-5 concentrations (corrected p = 0.00065; fold change = 3.17). Our results suggest that blood expression of the SCGB1C1 gene might be a marker of susceptibility to upper respiratory tract infections in athletes.

Secretoglobins in the big picture of immunoregulation in airway diseases

“…As mentioned above, fewer studies have focused on other SCGBs, but it has been shown that SCGB1C1 is also important for the protection of lung epithelial cells: It recognizes and removes pathogens from the airway mucosa 46 . It also seems to be involved in the development of a common cold 1,46,47 . Elite athletes appear to be more prone to upper airway infections and expression of serum SCGB1C1.…”

“…Elite athletes appear to be more prone to upper airway infections and expression of serum SCGB1C1. Thus, SCGB1C1 could serve as a parameter for susceptibility to respiratory infections, as described for SCGB1A1 43,47 …”

Transcriptomic Differentiation of Phenotypes in Chronic Rhinosinusitis and Its Implications for Understanding the Underlying Mechanisms

“…Nevertheless, they may both lack downregulation through IFN-γ ( Supplementary Table S1 ). The SCGB1C1 may be regarded as part of the host response protection against the common cold, as reviewed by Orysiak et al [ 25 ].…”

“…Interestingly, this was downregulated in athletes with a below-mean IgA and deletion involved in susceptibility to psoriasis [ 25 , 26 ]. The late cornified envelope 3D gene LCE3D was distinctly downregulated in CRSsNP.…”

Screening and Functional Pathway Analysis of Pulmonary Genes Associated with Suppression of Allergic Airway Inflammation by Adipose Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles

“…Igfbp6 is also associated with cell growth and fibroblast proliferation in asthmatics [ 47 ]. Scgb1c1 is mainly expressed in the human respiratory tract mucosa and is downregulated by IFN-r and upregulated by IL-4 and IL-13 [ 48 – 50 ]. Scgb1c1 also plays an important role in protecting lung epithelial cells by recognizing and eliminating pathogenic microorganisms in the mucous membranes [ 48 ].…”