The Role of the C-C Chemokine Receptor 2 Gene Polymorphism V64I (CCR2-64I) in Sarcoidosis in a Japanese Population

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Abstract
A number of chemokines are produced by alveolar cells in the course of inflammatory reactions of sarcoidosis. C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2) is a prominent receptor for the monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP) group of C-C chemokines. A transition causing a valine to isoleucine substitution in transmembrane domain I of the CCR2 gene (CCR2-64I) that has a protective effect against the progression of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) disease has been described. To elucidate the role of this CCR2 polymorphism in sarcoidosis, we investigated the distribution of the CCR2-64I in 100 subjects with sarcoidosis (40.2 +/- 18.6 yr [mean +/- SD], 37:63 [male:female]) and 122 healthy control subjects (44.4 +/- 14.1 yr, 75:47). The distribution of the CCR2-64I allele was significantly different between subjects with sarcoidosis and healthy control subjects (p < 0.001). The presence of the CCR2-64I allele conferred a lower risk for the development of sarcoidosis (adjusted odds ratio = 0.369, 95% CI = 0.203 to 0.673). Our study suggests that this polymorphism may play a role in the pathogenesis of sarcoidosis, and further studies are needed to define the role of CCR2-64I.