The TaqI Gene Polymorphisms of VDR and the Circulating 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D Levels Confer the Risk for the Keloid Scarring in Chinese Cohorts

Aim: to investigate the association between vitamin D receptor polymorphisms and circulating 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D) levels with keloid scar (KS) risk. Methods: A total of 261 patients with KS and 261 normal healthy individuals were enrolled. VDR gene polymorphisms were determined. Circulating 1,25(OH) 2D levels were detected. Results: In this study, we investigated the role of four loci of VDR gene polymorphisms in determining the risk of KS in a Chinese cohort. We found that the TaqI C>T polymorphism was closely associated with the KS incidence. Carriers with CC genotype of TaqI had a higher chance of developing KS. Stratification analyses by sex showed that this trend exists only in female subjects but not in male subjects. Furthermore, the TaqI C>T polymorphism affects the circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D levels. The CC carriers had a significantly lower mean circulating 1,25(OH) 2D level than TT carriers and CT carriers. KS subjects had significantly lower mean serum circulating 1,25(OH) 2D level than controls. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the serum circulating 1,25(OH) 2D level at the cut-off point of 16.1 ng/ml could discriminate KS subjects from controls. Conclusion: Collectively, these data provide evidence that the vitamin D/VDR pathway plays an important role in the development of KS. The TaqI gene polymorphisms of VDR and circulating 1,25(OH) 2D levels may thus be used as potential markers for prediction of KS development. Copyright (C) 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel