IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism is associated with the risk of severe influenza: a meta-analysis

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 143; no. 14; pp. 2975 - 2984
• Main Authors: XUAN, Y., WANG, L. N., LI, W., ZI, H. R., GUO, Y., YAN, W. J., CHEN, X. B., WEI, P. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.2015
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Amino acids; Child; Child, Preschool; Epidemics; Ethnicity; Female; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Infections; Influenza; Influenza virus; Influenza, Human - genetics; Influenza, Human - pathology; Interferon; Male; Membrane Proteins - genetics; Meta-analysis; Middle Aged; Original Papers; Pandemics; Polymorphism; Proteins; RNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; White people; Young Adult; IFITM3; influenza; meta-analysis; polymorphism
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268815000278

The interferon-inducible transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), as one of the key genes involved in the interferon pathway, is critical for defending the host against influenza virus, and the rs12252 T>C variant in IFITM3 might be associated with susceptibility to severe influenza. Owing to contradictory and inconclusive results, we performed a meta-analysis to assess the association between rs12252 T>C polymorphism and severe influenza risk. A comprehensive literature search up to 1 August 2014 was conducted in EMBASE, Pubmed, Web of Science, VIP, Wanfang and CNKI databases. Four eligible studies with a total of 445 influenza patients and 3396 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, our results demonstrated a significant association between the IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism and influenza risk [C vs. T: odds ratio (OR) 1·68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·32–2·13; CC vs. CT+TT: OR 2·38, 95% CI 1·52–3·73; CC+CT vs. TT: OR 1·62, 95% CI 1·18–2·22]. Stratification by ethnicity indicated that the variant C allele was associated with an 88% increased risk of influenza in Asians (C vs. T: OR 1·88, 95% CI 1·34–2·62). Moreover, subjects carrying the variant C allele had an increased risk of developing severe illness upon influenza infection (C vs. T: OR 2·70, 95% CI 1·86–3·94). However, no significant association was observed in patients with mild infection (C vs. T: OR 1·26, 95% CI 0·93–1·71). Our meta-analysis suggests that IFITM3 rs12252 T>C polymorphism is significantly associated with increased risk of severe influenza but not with the chance of initial virus infection.