Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) polymorphism rs689466 may contribute to the increased susceptibility to post-traumatic osteomyelitis in Chinese population.

BACKGROUND

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzyme is one of the major mediators during inflammation reactions, and COX-2 gene polymorphisms of rs20417 and rs689466 have been reported to be associated with several inflammatory diseases. However, potential links between the two polymorphisms and risk of developing post-traumatic osteomyelitis remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate associations between the rs20417 and rs689466 polymorphisms and susceptibility to post-traumatic osteomyelitis in Chinese population.

METHODS

A total of 189 patients with definite diagnosis of post-traumatic osteomyelitis and 220 healthy controls were genotyped for rs20417 and rs689466 using the SNaPshot genotyping method. Chi-square test was used to compare differences of genotype distributions as well as outcomes of five different genetic models between the two groups.

RESULTS

Significant association was found between rs689466 and post-traumatic osteomyelitis by recessive model (GG vs. AA + AG) (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.098-2.755, p = .018). Although no statistical differences were identified of rs689466 between the two groups by allele model (p = .098) or homozygous model (p = .084), outcomes revealed a tendency that allele G may be a risk factor and people of GG genotype may be in a higher risk to develop post-traumatic osteomyelitis in Chinese population. However, no significant link was found between rs20417 and susceptibility to post-traumatic osteomyelitis in this Chinese cohort.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, we reported for the first time that COX-2 gene polymorphism rs689466 may contribute to the increased susceptibility to post-traumatic osteomyelitis in Chinese population.