Interactions between
collagen gene variants and risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture
collagen gene variants and risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture
O’Connell
K., Knight H., Ficek K., Leonska-Duniec A., Maciejewska-Karlowska A., Sawczuk M.,
Stepien-Slodkowska M., O’Cuinneagain D., van der Merwe W., Posthumus M.,
Ciezczyk P., Collins M. Eurpoean Journal of Sport Science.
K., Knight H., Ficek K., Leonska-Duniec A., Maciejewska-Karlowska A., Sawczuk M.,
Stepien-Slodkowska M., O’Cuinneagain D., van der Merwe W., Posthumus M.,
Ciezczyk P., Collins M. Eurpoean Journal of Sport Science.
Take Home Message: An
individual with a specific genetic variation related to collagen type III may
be more likely to have an ACL injury. Additionally a gene-gene interaction may
exist between two genetic variants related to collagen that increase the risk
of ACL injury in females.
individual with a specific genetic variation related to collagen type III may
be more likely to have an ACL injury. Additionally a gene-gene interaction may
exist between two genetic variants related to collagen that increase the risk
of ACL injury in females.
Various
types of collagen (for example, types III, V, VI, XII) are present in the anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL). We’ve previously seen evidence that genetic variations among genes that produce components
of the ACL may increase the risk of ACL tears but very few investigators have
looked at the risk of an ACL injury when someone has multiple genetic
variations. Four genes of interest may be those that produce types III, V, VI,
and XII collagen. Therefore, the authors investigated whether individual gene
variants within COL3A1, COL6A1, COL5A1, and COL12A1, as
well as the combination of these variants increased the risk of ACL rupture. The
authors explored these genetic variants in 2 different populations. The first
population consisted of 477 Caucasian South African of which 242 (177 male, 65
female) were surgically diagnosed with an ACL rupture and 235 (145 male, 90
females) self-reported no history of an ACL injury. The second group consisted
of 234 Polish participants, where 91 participants (71 male, 20 female) were
surgically diagnosed with an ACL rupture and 143 (99 male, 44 female)
self-reported no previous ACL injury. The authors matched the injured and
uninjured participants in each cohort for weight and height. Additionally, the
Polish group was matched for sex. To determine gene-gene interaction researchers used previous genes that were individually associated
with ACL injury risk (COL5A1 and COL12A1) and separately analyzed male
and female subgroups. The researchers demonstrated an association within the
Polish cohort between a COL3A1 variant
and ACL rupture, where those carrying that variation were almost 4 times more
at risk for an ACL rupture compared with controls. No genetic associations to
ACL ruptures were found within the South African cohort. Finally, there was a
gene-gene interaction among females in both cohorts. Females carrying a COL5A1 variation and the COL12A1 variation were more likely to
have an ACL injury compared with females not carrying these variations. There
were no gene-gene interactions within the male sub-group.
types of collagen (for example, types III, V, VI, XII) are present in the anterior
cruciate ligament (ACL). We’ve previously seen evidence that genetic variations among genes that produce components
of the ACL may increase the risk of ACL tears but very few investigators have
looked at the risk of an ACL injury when someone has multiple genetic
variations. Four genes of interest may be those that produce types III, V, VI,
and XII collagen. Therefore, the authors investigated whether individual gene
variants within COL3A1, COL6A1, COL5A1, and COL12A1, as
well as the combination of these variants increased the risk of ACL rupture. The
authors explored these genetic variants in 2 different populations. The first
population consisted of 477 Caucasian South African of which 242 (177 male, 65
female) were surgically diagnosed with an ACL rupture and 235 (145 male, 90
females) self-reported no history of an ACL injury. The second group consisted
of 234 Polish participants, where 91 participants (71 male, 20 female) were
surgically diagnosed with an ACL rupture and 143 (99 male, 44 female)
self-reported no previous ACL injury. The authors matched the injured and
uninjured participants in each cohort for weight and height. Additionally, the
Polish group was matched for sex. To determine gene-gene interaction researchers used previous genes that were individually associated
with ACL injury risk (COL5A1 and COL12A1) and separately analyzed male
and female subgroups. The researchers demonstrated an association within the
Polish cohort between a COL3A1 variant
and ACL rupture, where those carrying that variation were almost 4 times more
at risk for an ACL rupture compared with controls. No genetic associations to
ACL ruptures were found within the South African cohort. Finally, there was a
gene-gene interaction among females in both cohorts. Females carrying a COL5A1 variation and the COL12A1 variation were more likely to
have an ACL injury compared with females not carrying these variations. There
were no gene-gene interactions within the male sub-group.
This
was a novel study that found that there may be a gene-gene interaction that
increases a female’s risk to ACL rupture. The interaction is important because
if we only looked at one genetic variation it may mask the risk because the
true risk required a second variation to be present. This highlights the
complexity of using genetic risk factors. If we want to use genetic testing to
identify a patient at high risk we may need to look at the whole genetic
picture, or as much as possible. Owing to the fact that an ACL injury has many
intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to the risk, future research
should consider further gene-gene interactions as well as the role of an
interaction between environment and genetics. Clinically, these findings may
help explain why females may be at a greater risk of ACL injury, and medical
personnel should be educating females on these risks as well as preventative
measures.
was a novel study that found that there may be a gene-gene interaction that
increases a female’s risk to ACL rupture. The interaction is important because
if we only looked at one genetic variation it may mask the risk because the
true risk required a second variation to be present. This highlights the
complexity of using genetic risk factors. If we want to use genetic testing to
identify a patient at high risk we may need to look at the whole genetic
picture, or as much as possible. Owing to the fact that an ACL injury has many
intrinsic and extrinsic factors contributing to the risk, future research
should consider further gene-gene interactions as well as the role of an
interaction between environment and genetics. Clinically, these findings may
help explain why females may be at a greater risk of ACL injury, and medical
personnel should be educating females on these risks as well as preventative
measures.
Questions for Discussion:
Does knowing genetic risk change how you educate athletes on risks and
prevention for ACL injuries? Do you think genetic screening could lead to
better preventative measures?
Does knowing genetic risk change how you educate athletes on risks and
prevention for ACL injuries? Do you think genetic screening could lead to
better preventative measures?
Written
by: Jane McDevitt, PhD
by: Jane McDevitt, PhD
Reviewed
by: Jeff Driban
by: Jeff Driban
Related
Posts:
Posts:
O’Connell K, Knight H, Ficek K, Leonska-Duniec A, Maciejewska-Karlowska A, Sawczuk M, Stepien-Slodkowska M, O’Cuinneagain D, van der Merwe W, Posthumus M, Cieszczyk P, & Collins M (2014). Interactions between collagen gene variants and risk of anterior cruciate ligament rupture. European Journal of Sport Science, 1-10 PMID: 25073002
In the patients with the ruptured ACLs, were the ACLs ruptured from non-contact injuries or were some caused from a direct blow to the knee? If the ACL was ruptured from a direct blow to the knee I would think that a genetic variation would have no importance in that circumstance. Also, why were gene-gene interactions found only in females?
Kyle,
Thank you for you comment. The authors group both contact and non-contact ACL ruptures together. It may be better in the future to separate them because it may lead to different predictive patterns. In my opinion, I do feel as though the composition of the ACL (e.g., the amount and type of collagen fibers) would provide information on the ability of the ACL to resist different forces, whether that be from direct or indirect forces. The stronger the ACL structure the better it can resist forces, the weaker the ACL structure the less forces it can resist, and these genetic variations may be contributing factors to why some ACLs can resist similar or stronger forces than others.
This study found the gene-gene interaction in females for this particular condition, but there are gene-gene interactions only found in men. Males and Females do differ slightly in genetics due in part to the X and Y chromosomes, but they also have the same genes but they are expressed in different ways. For example, both sexes have the Growth hormone gene 1 and 2; however, the amount of expression (how much or the proteins are produced by the growth hormone gene) differs. This helps explain in part why males have larger bony projections compared to females.
I feel that knowing the genetic composition of a patient would be very helpful.It would be helpful because then we could figure out what type of structures in the patient may be weak and more susceptible to injury or reoccurring injury. With that, I believe that genetic screening could plausibly lead to better preventive measures. The only question with that is, how could we genetically screen everyone and keep secure records of those results?
Cody,
Great question, just with any medical records they need to be kept strictly confidential and under a double lock and key (e.g., locked drawer, in a locked office). The ability of genetically screening everyone for these specific variations easily is not yet available. I am hoping that in the future genetic screening tests will be similar to how diabetic patients test their blood sugar.