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Association between vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism and mortality in patients with sepsis

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Abstract

Background

Sepsis is life-threatening organ dysfunction as a result of the host’s dysregulated immune response to infection. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene FokI polymorphism influences immune cell behavior. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between VDR FokI polymorphism and mortality in sepsis and non-sepsis patients in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods and results

This is a prospective observational study involving 96 sepsis and 96 non-sepsis patients admitted to the Ege University ICU. VDR FokI polymorphisms were investigated, as well as the relationship between the identified polymorphisms and mortality. 

In-hospital mortality was 27.1% in the sepsis group and 8.33% in the non-sepsis group (p = 0.001). The frequencies of VDR FokI TT, TC, and CC genotypes were 8 (8.33%), 48 (50.0%), and 40 (41.7%) in the sepsis group, and 11 (11.5%), 42 (43.8%), and 43 (44.8%) in the non-sepsis group, respectively (p = 0.612). In the sepsis group, the frequencies of Fokl TT, TC, and CC genotypes did not differ significantly between survivors and non-survivors. However, homozygous C allele carriers had lower overall mortality (p = 0.047).

Conclusion

The VDR FokI polymorphism, particularly the CC genotype, appears to be associated with lower mortality in ICU patients.

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Data availability

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

1,25(OH)2D3:

1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3

VDR:

Vitamin D receptor

T:

Thymine

C:

Cytosine

ICU:

Intensive Care Unit

SBP:

Systolic  blood pressure

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

SOFA:

Sequential organ failure assessment

PCR:

Polymerase chain reaction

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

HT:

Hypertension

CKDs:

Chronic kidney diseases

HF:

Heart failure

CVDs:

Cardiovascular diseases

AKI:

Acute kidney injury

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Acknowledgements

None.

Funding

This work was supported by Ege University Scientific Project Unit ( Grant Number:  TGA-2020-22223)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Sukriye Miray Kilincer Bozgul, Devrim Bozkurt, Ozgur Aydin & Didem Koca

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Genetics, Ege University, Izmir, Turkey

    Durdugul Ayyildiz Emecen & Tahir Atik

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Ege University, 35100, Bornova, Izmır, Turkey

    Funda Karbek Akarca & Ozge Can

  4. Department of General Surgeon, KTO Karatay University, Konya, Turkey

    Omer Vedat Unalp

Authors
  1. Sukriye Miray Kilincer Bozgul
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Contributions

SMKB, FKA, DAE, DB, OVU and TA conceived of the study. SMKB, FKA, OVU and TA designed this study. OC, ÖA, DK and SMKB recruited study participants. DAE and TA performed genotyping. SMKB, DAE, OC, ÖA, DK and TA analyzed the clinical data and performed the statistical analysis. SMKB, DAE, OC, OVU drafted the manuscript. FKA, DB and TA edited the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Funda Karbek Akarca.

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Competing interests

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Ege University Ethics Committee, number 20-7T/92 and adhered to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki. All patients or their relatives provided written informed consent.

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Bozgul, S.M.K., Emecen, D.A., Akarca, F.K. et al. Association between vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism and mortality in patients with sepsis. Mol Biol Rep 51, 44 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-08971-8

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