Genetic Variation in NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 Immune Sensors and Risk of Osteoporosis.

This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 gene polymorphisms and osteoporosis in the Turkish population. The first time we thought that the functional polymorphisms in NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 genes might be triggered the development of osteoporosis. The objective of our study was to determine the relationship between NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 SNPs and osteoporosis. The NOD1/CARD4 (rs5743336) and NOD2/CARD15 (rs2066847) SNPs are analysed by PCR-RFLP in 94 healthy controls and 164 subject with osteoporosis. PCR products were digested with restriction enzymes AvaI for NOD1/CARD4 and ApaI for NOD2/CARD15. We found that NOD1/CARD4; genotype distribution of AA, GA and GG were %15, %44 and %41 for patients and %17, %46 and %37 for control, respectively. NOD2/CARD15 mutation was found only in 3 patients (1.8%) as heterozygote. The results did not show any statistically difference between NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 genotype distribution of patients and healthy groups (χ2=1.740,p=0.187;χ2=1.311,p=0.519). However, the most frequent AG genotype (%46) of NOD1/CARD4 was observed in healthy controls, GG genotype (%44) of NOD1/CARD4 was observed as the most frequent in osteoporotic patients. NOD2/CARD15 WT/WT genotype the most frequent genotype was observed in both groups. Statistical analysis revealed that NOD1/CARD4 and NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms were not associated with osteoporosis. However, a definite judgement is difficult to make due to restricted number of patients and small size of control group. Further research is sorely warranted in this direction.