All issues > Volume 48(4); 2005

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2005;48(4):376-379. Published online April 15, 2005.

Human Surfactant Protein-A(SP-A) Gene Locus Associated with Mycoplasma pneumoniae Pneumonia in Korean Children

Seung Soo SS Kim¹, In Kyu IK Lee¹, Jung Ho JH Ko², Myung Ho MH Oh¹, Chong Woo CW Bae³

²Protein Section, Laboratory of Metabolism(LM), National Cancer Institute(NCI), National Institute of Health(NIH), USA
³Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyunghee University, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Myung Ho MH Oh ,Email: omh@schch.co.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Mycoplasama pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia and exacerbates other respiratory conditions such as asthma. Surfactant protein A(SP-A) is involved in surfactant physiology and surfactant structure, and plays a major role in innate host defense and inflammatory processes in the lung. In this study, SP-A mediated mycoplasma cidal activity. The candidate-gene approach was used to study the association between the SP-A gene locus and Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in the genetically homogeneous Korean population.
Methods
: PCR-cRFLP-based methodology was used to detect SP-A genotype. The forty nine children with Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia were matched to 50 nomal neonates.
Results
: The specific frequencies for the alleles of the SP-A1 and SP-A2 gene in the study population were : 6A2=21 percent, 6A3=45 percent, 6A4=11 percent, 6A8=9 percent, 6A14=8 percent, 1A=11.3 percent, 1A0=38 percent, 1A1=12.7 percent, 1A2=9.2 percent, 1A5=15.5 percent, 1A7=2.9 percent, 1A8=4.9 percent, 1A9=2.2 percent, others=3.3 percent. The frequencies of specific genotypes such as 1A2 was higher than control group, significantly.
Conclusion
: 1A2 are susceptible factors for Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia. We conclude that the SP-A gene locus(1A2) is an important determinant for predisposition to Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in children.

Keywords :Surfactant , Pulmonary surfactant-associated protein A , Mycoplasama pneumoniae