All issues > Volume 47(7); 2004

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2004;47(7):735-739. Published online July 15, 2004.

Association between the Human Surfactant Protein-A(SP-A) Gene Locus and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Korean Neonates

Jae Hoon JH Choe¹, Myung Ho MH Oh¹, Jung Ho JH Ko², Sun Young SY Kim¹, In Kyu IK Lee¹, Chong Woo CW Bae³

¹Department of Pediatrics, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Chonan, Korea
²Protein Section, Laboratory of Metabolism(LM), National Cancer Institute(NCI), National Institute of Health(NIH)
³Department of Pediatrics, Kyunghee University Hospital, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Myung Ho MH Oh ,Email: omh@schch.co.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Respiratory distress syndrome(RDS) is caused by a deficiency of pulmonary surfactant, which is a lipoprotein complex. Both low levels of surfactant protein A(SP-A) and SP-A alleles have been associated with RDS. However, the genes underlying susceptibility to RDS are insufficiently known. The candidate-gene approach was used to study the association between the SP-A gene locus and RDS in the genetically homogeneous Korean population.
Methods
: A PCR-cRFLP-based methodology was used to detect SP-A genotype. Twenty four neonates with RDS were matched pairwise to those without RDS.
Results
: The frequencies of specific genotypes such as 6A2, 1A0 were increased, but the frequency of specific 1A2 genotype was increased in control group. 6A2/1A0 were also increased in the RDS group. Infants who did not have RDS develop, despite prematurity and lack of steroid therapy, had a higher frequency of the 1A2 allele than infants who had received steroid therapy and had RDS develop. However, infants who had received steroid therapy and had RDS develop had a higher frequency of the 1A0 allele than infants who did not have RDS develop, despite prematurity and lack of steroid therapy.
Conclusion
: SP-A alleles/haplotypes are susceptible(6A2, 1A0, 6A2/1A0) or protective(1A2) factors for RDS. We conclude that the SP-A gene locus is an important determinant for predisposition to RDS in neonates.

Keywords :Surfactant, Pulmonary surfactant associated protein-A, Respiratory distress syndrome, Steroids