Association of ACL tears and single nucleotide polymorphisms in the collagen 12 A1 gene in the Indian population - a preliminary case-control study

Genetic Variants within NOGGIN, COL1A1, COL5A1, and IGF2 are Associated with Musculoskeletal Injuries in Elite Male Australian Football League Players: A Preliminary Study

INTRODUCTION

Australian Football is a dynamic team sport that requires many athletic traits to succeed. Due to this combination of traits, as well as technical skill and physicality, there are many types of injuries that could occur. Injuries are not only a hindrance to the individual player, but to the team as a whole. Many strength and conditioning personnel strive to minimise injuries to players to accomplish team success.

PURPOSE

To investigate whether selected polymorphisms have an association with injury occurrence in elite male Australian Football players.

METHODS

Using DNA obtained from 46 elite male players, we investigated the associations of injury-related polymorphisms across multiple genes (ACTN3, CCL2, COL1A1, COL5A1, COL12A1, EMILIN1, IGF2, NOGGIN, SMAD6) with injury incidence, severity, type (contact and non-contact), and tissue (muscle, bone, tendon, ligament) over 7 years in one Australian Football League team.

RESULTS

A significant association was observed between the rs1372857 variant in NOGGIN (p = 0.023) and the number of total muscle injuries, with carriers of the GG genotype having a higher estimated number of injuries, and moderate, or combined moderate and high severity rated total muscle injuries. The COL5A1 rs12722TT genotype also had a significant association (p = 0.028) with the number of total muscle injuries. The COL5A1 variant also had a significant association with contact bone injuries (p = 0.030), with a significant association being found with moderate rated injuries. The IGF2 rs3213221-CC variant was significantly associated with a higher estimated number of contact tendon injuries per game (p = 0.028), while a higher estimated number of total ligament (p = 0.019) and non-contact ligament (p = 0.002) injuries per game were significantly associated with carriage of the COL1A1 rs1800012-TT genotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preliminary study is the first to examine associations between genetic variants and injury in Australian Football. NOGGIN rs1372857-GG, COL5A1 rs12722-TT, IGF2 rs3213221-CC, and COL1A1 rs1800012-TT genotypes held various associations with muscle-, bone-, tendon- and ligament-related injuries of differing severities. To further increase our understanding of these, and other, genetic variant associations with injury, competition-wide AFL studies that use more players and a larger array of gene candidates is essential.

Association of COL12A1 rs970547 Polymorphism with Elite Athlete Status

The role of genetics, as an intrinsic factor, in research of sports performance increases with every passing year. The polymorphism rs970547 of the COL12A1 gene is one of the most promising genetic markers linked to soft-tissue injuries. This study aimed to investigate whether COL12A1 rs970547 genotypes are associated with elite Lithuanian athletes from high-risk various sports, such as running, throwing, jumping, and football. The study involved 293 Lithuanian elite athletes and 287 healthy untrained individuals from the Lithuanian population. The results of this study suggest that the rs970547 T allele and TT genotype were significantly over-represented in the total athlete group compared to controls (p < 0.05). There was a significantly lower C allele frequency in the sprint/power group (16.9%) as well as in footballers (19.4%) compared to controls (33.3%, p < 0.05). Positive selection analysis results showed that the derived allele experiences selection pressure within the general population of Lithuanians. Taken together, the findings of this study suggested that COL12A1 rs970547 (T allele and TT genotype) is associated with elite athlete status, especially with sprint/power athlete and footballer`s performance. However, larger-scale studies within different ethnic backgrounds are still warranted to confirm the findings of our study.

Collagen XII Deficiency Increases the Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Mice

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common knee injury for athletes. Although surgical reconstruction is recommended for the treatment of ACL ruptures, 100% functional recovery is unlikely. Therefore, the discovery of risk factors for ACL ruptures may prevent injury. Several studies have reported an association between polymorphisms of the collagen XII gene COL12A1 and ACL rupture. Collagen XII is highly expressed in tendons and ligaments and regulates tissue structure and mechanical property. Therefore, we hypothesized that collagen XII deficiency may cause ACL injury. To elucidate the influence of collagen XII deficiency on ACL, we analyzed a mouse model deficient for Col12a1. Four- to 19-week-old male Col12a1-/- and wild-type control mice were used for gait analysis; histological and immunofluorescent analysis of collagen XII, and real-time RT-PCR evaluation of Col12a1 mRNA expression. The Col12a1-/- mice showed an abnormal gait with an approximately 2.7-fold increase in step angle, suggesting altered step alignment. Col12a1-/- mice displayed 20-60% ACL discontinuities, but 0% discontinuity in the posterior cruciate ligament. No discontinuities in knee ligaments were found in wild-type mice. Collagen XII mRNA expression in the ACL tended to decrease with aging. Our study demonstrates for the first time that collagen XII deficiency increases the risk of ACL injury.

Correlations Between the Genetic Variations in the COL1A1, COL5A1, COL12A1, and β-fibrinogen Genes and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury in Chinese Patientsa

CONTEXT

A variety of factors have been linked to the occurrence of anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACLI), including sex, familial factors, and genetic variations.

OBJECTIVE

To find the genetic loci associated with ACLI and explore the genetic mechanism of ACLI in order to provide a genetic basis for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of patients with ACLI.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Hospital.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Data from 101 Chinese Yunnan Han patients with ACLI and 110 Yunnan Han individuals without ACLI (control group) were collected.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

The single nucleotide polymorphisms of COL1A1 rs1800012, COL5A1 rs12722 and rs13946, COL12A1 rs970547 and rs240736 and the rs1800787, rs1800788, rs1800789, rs1800790, rs1800791, and rs2227389 in the β-fibrinogen (β-fib) promoter region were analyzed using restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing detection, and their genetic associations with ACLI were assessed.

RESULTS

Single nucleotide polymorphisms of COL1A1 rs1800012, COL5A1 rs12722 and rs13946, and the rs1800789 and rs1800791 in the β-fib promoter region showed no difference between patients with ACLI and control participants, but the changes of COL12A1 rs970547 and rs240736 and the rs1800787, rs1800788, rs1800790, and rs2227389 genotypes in the β-fib promoter region were associated with ACLI. Furthermore, the rs970547 allele and genotype frequencies in male ACLI patients were different from the control group (P < .05): the frequencies of the rs970547 A and G alleles in the patients were 71.9% and 28.1%, respectively, and in the control group were 58.8% and 41.2%, respectively. The frequencies of AA, AG, and GG genotypes in the patients were 49.3%, 45.2%, and 5.5%, respectively, and in the control group were 27.5%, 62.7%, and 9.8%, respectively, suggesting that male carriers of rs970547 A and rs970547 AA were at high risk of ACLI.

CONCLUSIONS

Males with the rs970547 A allele and rs970547 AA genotype of COL12A1 may be at high risk for ACLI. Low rs1800787 TT and high rs1800788 CT, rs1800790 AG, and rs2227389 CT frequencies as well as high TGA* of rs1800790, rs1800791, and rs2227389 in the β-fib promoter region may be genetic risk factors related to ACLI.

No Association Between Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Selected Candidate Collagen Gene Variants in Female Elite Athletes From High-Risk Team Sports

BACKGROUND

Several single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in collagen genes have been reported as predisposing factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. However, the evidence is conflicting and does not support a clear association between genetic variants and risk of ACL ruptures.

PURPOSE

To assess the association of previously identified candidate SNVs in genes encoding for collagen and the risk of ACL injury in a population of elite female athletes from high-risk team sports.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

A total of 851 female Norwegian and Finnish elite athletes from team sports were included from 2007 to 2011. ACL injuries acquired before inclusion in the cohort were registered by interview. The participants were followed prospectively through 2015 to record new complete ACL injuries. Six selected SNVs were genotyped ( COL1A1: rs1800012, rs1107946; COL3A1: rs1800255; COL5A1: rs12722, rs13946; COL12A1: rs970547).

RESULTS

No associations were found between ACL rupture and the SNVs tested.

CONCLUSION

The study does not support a role of the 6 selected SNVs in genes encoding for collagen proteins as risk factors for ACL injury.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Genetic profiling to identify athletes at high risk for ACL rupture is not yet feasible.