Family-based association tests suggest linkage between surfactant protein B (SP-B) (and flanking region) and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS): SP-B haplotypes and alleles from SP-B-linked loci are risk factors for RDS.

Genetic variants of surfactant protein B (SP-B) have been associated with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in the prematurely born infant. We wished to determine linkage between RDS and SP-B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) [-18 (A/C), 1013 (A/C), 1580 (C/T), and 9306 (A/G)] or SP-B-linked microsatellite [(D2S388, D2S2232, (AAGG)n, and GATA41E01 (or D2S1331)] loci and identify susceptibility or protective alleles and haplotypes. We genotyped 132 families consisting of one or two parents and at least one child affected with RDS and performed biallelic and multiallelic family-based association test (FBAT) analysis, and extended transmission disequilibrium test (ETDT). ETDT analysis identified the microsatellite SP-B-linked loci (except D2S2232) to be linked to RDS. One allele from each of these three marker loci contributes to the risk of RDS. Multiallelic FBAT analysis detected a signal of linkage for the region of the four SNP loci. Three haplotypes within this region contribute to RDS risk. Although no other region showed significant linkage as judged by multiallelic FBAT, biallelic FBAT analysis revealed three potential susceptibility haplotypes formed by two to four loci within the SP-B and SP-B-linked microsatellite region. Each haplotype included GATA41E01, which was identified by ETDT analysis to be linked to RDS. We conclude that SP-B or SP-B-linked loci are linked to RDS and certain alleles or haplotypes are susceptibility or protective factors for the development of RDS in infants born prematurely.