Lack of association between NRAMP1 gene polymorphisms and Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Genetic analysis in mice and humans have established the key role of the hu man natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) in resistan ce to intracellular infections. In the present study we investigated whethe r four NRAMP1 polymorphisms (5'(GT)n, -236 C -->T, D543N, and 3'UTR deletio n) were important in determining the susceptibility to Trypanosoma cruzi in fections as well as in the development of chagasic cardiac disease. Genotyp ing for these variants was assessed in 83 seropositive (asymptomatic, n=51, cardiomyopathic, n=32) and 85 seronegative individuals from a Peruvian pop ulation where T. cruzi is endemic. No statistically significant differences either between patients and controls or between asymptomatic and cardiomyo pathic individuals were observed with respect to NRAMP1 variants. Our data suggest that the NRAMP1 genetic polymorphism analysed do not play a major r ole in the pathogenesis of T. cruzi infection in this Peruvian sample.