Variants in the non-coding region of the TLR2 gene associated with infectious subphenotypes in pediatric sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is characterized by chronic hemolysis, severe vasoocclusive crises (VOCs), and recurrent often severe infections. A cohort of 95 SCA pediatric patients was the background for genotype-to-phenotype association of the patient’s infectious disease phenotype and three non-coding polymorphic regions of the TLR2 gene, the −196 to −174 indel, SNP rs4696480, and a (GT)n short tandem repeat. The infectious subphenotypes included (A) recurrent respiratory infections and (B) severe bacterial infection at least once during the patient’s follow-up. The absence of the haplotype [Del]-T-[n ≥ 17] (Hap7) in homozygocity protected against subphenotype (B), in a statistically significant association, resisting correction for multiple testing. For the individual loci, the same association tendencies were observed as in the haplotype, including a deleterious association between the SNP rs4696480 T allele and subphenotype (A), whereas the A/A genotype was protective, and a deleterious effect of the A/T genotype with subphenotype (B), as well as including the protective effect of −196 to −174 insert (Ins) and deleterious effect of the deletion (Del) in homozygocity, against subphenotype (B). Moreover, a reduction in the incidence rate of severe bacterial infection was associated to a rise in the hemolytic score, fetal hemoglobin levels (prior to hydroxyurea treatment), and 3.7-kb alpha-thalassemia. Interestingly, differences between the effects of the two latter covariables favoring a reduction in the incidence rate of subphenotype (B) contrast with a resulting increase in relation to subphenotype (A). These results could have practical implications in health care strategies to lower the morbidity and mortality of SCA patients.