MBL2polymorphisms in women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance

Abstract

Infection with high risk Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main known cause of cervical cancer. HPV induces different grades of lesions: among them, Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance are abnormal lesions that could evolve in pre-cancer lesions or spontaneously regress. The mannose binding lectin (MBL) is an innate immunity serum protein also found in cervico-vaginal mucosa, whose expression is known to be affected by polymorphisms in exon 1 and promoter of the MBL2 gene. In the present study the possible association between MBL2 functional polymorphisms and susceptibility to develop atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance was investigated in a group of women from North-East of Italy, stratified for HPV infection status. The MBL2 D and O alleles and the deficient producer combined genotypes, responsible for low MBL production, were more represented among atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance positive women than healthy controls and the results were confirmed when only HPV negative samples were considered. These results suggest a possible involvement of MBL2 functional polymorphisms in atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance susceptibility.

Mannose-Binding Lectin Does Not Act as a Biomarker for the Progression of Preinvasive Lesions of Invasive Cervical Cancer

“…Conversely, it has been reported that specific functional polymorphisms in the MBL2 gene could increase women's susceptibility to infection by high-risk HPV genotypes due to low MBL serum levels [14][15][16]. In addition, Zupin et al [24] suggested a possible association between MBL2 polymorphisms responsible for low MBL production and susceptibility to the development of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance.…”