Association between -221 X/Y polymorphism of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene and susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection among people from an endemic region in the Northeast of Iran

The role of (MBL) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been well documented in susceptibility to several infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association between two MBL promoter variants, -550 H/L and -221 X/Y, and susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection. A total of 153 subjects infected with HTLV-1 and 169 healthy controls were recruited. SSP-PCR method was applied to genotype -550 H/L and -221 X/Y polymorphisms. Associations between genotypes or alleles and susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection were analyzed by Pearson's Chi-Square. p ≤ .05 was considered statistically significant. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the two groups in the -221 position (χ2 = 19.709; p = .000). The MBL YX genotype was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to HTLV-1 (OR = 2.73, %95 CI = 1.74–4.30). Combined genotype of the two loci showed that the HYHX genotype (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 1.95–2.48) and LYLX (OR = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.13–3.45) were associated with an increased risk of HTLV-1 infection. Our results represent the importance of -221 X > Y variants in acquisition of HTLV-1 as this is the case for several other viral and bacterial infections. •The MBL gene -221 X/Y polymorphism plays a role in susceptibility to HTLV-1 infection•X allele of this variant is a risk factor while Y allele has a protective effect•The -550 H/L variant does not have any effect on the acquisition of the infection