Epidemiology of vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms in the city of Maceió/Alagoas and its relationship with Zika and Chikungunya virus infections

• Grant number: 18/18224-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Shirley Cavalcante Vasconcelos
• Grantee: Giulia Luiza Santos
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The Vitamin D is a lipid soluble hormone that has the principal function of calcio homeostasis, to ensure bone and brain health development. Recent studies demonstrate that it even has other roles in important systems like immunologic and cardiovascular, beyond your possible connection with cancer. All these functions are mediated by a nuclear receptor, the VDR (vitamin D receptor), which is expressed in different types of cells, and it is fundamental that the bond between receptor and hormone occur correctly making sure that its function works well. However, the VDR gene present polymorphisms that can decrease the affinity among receptor and vitamin D. This factor has been related with a predisposition for disease like diabetes mellitus, arthritis rheumatoid and mostly as a factor of hypovitaminosis D, that can cause rickets and osteoporosis. The polymorphisms in VDR has been associated in different stages of Dengue, Herpes and Hepatitis C showing the relation with the immune system. The project is based on the importance of immunological system on this type of disease and the modulation role of vitamin D in this kind of response. The objectives of the study are: to analyze the incidence of polymorphisms in VDR: (rs2228570); (rs1544410); (rs7975232), through the sequencing of 355 samples from individuals infected with Chikungunya and Zika virus from different neighboarhoods of the city of Maceió / Alagoas; evaluate whether there is any correlation with infection by one of the mentioned infectious agents and the polymorphisms in VDR.