Association between Survivin rs9904341 Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Acne Vulgaris

Acne vulgaris (AV), common dermatopathology, has a complex etiopathogenesis with a genetic background. The Survivin gene, which encodes an inhibitor of apoptosis protein, has been linked to some dermatologic disorders. The relationship between Survivin gene polymorphisms and AV has not yet been explored.

To study the effect of survivin gene polymorphism rs9904341 and survivin serum concentration on the development of AV in Egyptian patients.

Serum survivin was estimated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time quantitative PCR using allelic discrimination probes was conducted to investigate the rs9904341 polymorphism in the survivin gene in 118 AV patients and 120 healthy controls.

The serum survivin levels were significantly higher in AV patients than controls. Also, it was positively correlated with acne severity. The C allele was significantly more observed in acne patients compared to healthy controls. Patients with the C allele had 1.6 times higher odds of exhibiting acne than those with the G allele. The C/C genotype was significantly more observed in cases versus controls. Patients with the C/C genotype had 2.8 times higher odds of exhibiting acne as compared to those with the G/G genotype. However, no significant association was found between genotype distribution and grades of acne severity.

Results showed significant associations between survivin gene rs9904341 genotypes and AV susceptibility, although it was not related to acne severity and could not be used as a marker of disease activity.

AV: Acne vulgaris, GAGS: Global Acne Rating System, SNPs: Single nucleotide polymorphisms.