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

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 : 6A 2 =21 percent, 6A 3 =45 percent, 6A 4 =11 percent, 6A 8 =9 percent, 6A 14 =8 percent, 1A=11.3 percent, 1A 0 =38 percent, 1A 1 =12.7 percent, 1A 2 =9.2 percent, 1A 5 =15.5 percent, 1A 7 =2.9 percent, 1A 8 =4.9 percent, 1A 9 =2.2 percent, others=3.3 percent. The frequencies of specific genotypes such as 1A 2 was higher than control group, significantly. Conclusion : 1A 2 are susceptible factors for Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia. We conclude that the SP-A gene locus(1A 2 ) is an important determinant for predisposition to Mycoplasama pneumoniae pneumonia in children. (Korean J Pediatr 2005;48:376-379)