Effect of integrin AV and B8 gene polymorphisms in patients with traumatic brain injury

<b>Background:</b> Α few genetic variants are associated with the outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Integrins are glycoprotein receptors that play an important role in the integrity of microvasculature of the brain. <b>Objective:</b> To examine the role of integrin-AV (<i>ITGAV</i>) and integrin-B8 (<i>ITGB8</i>) tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the outcome of patients with TBI. <b>Methods:</b> 363 participants were included and genotyped for 11 SNPs for <i>ITGAV</i> and 11 for <i>ITGB8</i> gene. SNPs were tested for associations with the 6-month outcome after TBI, the presence of a hemorrhagic event after TBI, and the initial TBI severity after adjustment for TBI’s main predictors. <b>Results:</b> The ITGAV <i>rs3911239</i> CC and <i>rs7596996</i> GG genotypes were associated with an unfavorable outcome after TBI, compared to the TT and AA genotypes, respectively. The ITGB8 <i>rs10239099</i> CC and <i>rs3757727</i> CC genotypes were associated with increased risk of any cerebral hemorrhagic event after TBI compared to GG and TT respectively. The ITGAV <i>rs7589470</i> and <i>rs7565633</i> were associated with the TBI’s initial severity. <b>Conclusions:</b> ITGAV gene SNPs may be implicated in the outcome after TBI, as well as in the initial TBI severity, and also of ITGB8 gene SNPs in the risk of hemorrhagic event after a TBI.