Sex and Foxp3 -924a/g Gene Polymorphism May Be Associated With the Clinical and Pathological Aspects of Chronic Viral Diseases

Abstract Background: The forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3) transcription factor is one of the main markers of immunological suppression in different pathological profiles, and the presence of polymorphic variants may alter the gene expression of this factor. Despite descriptions of an association between the presence of the -924A/G polymorphism and chronic diseases, the role of the sex variant in this context has not yet been elucidated,as the FOXP3 gene is located on the human sex chromosome X. Results: To contribute to this topic, 323 women and 373 men diagnosed with chronic viral infections or coronary artery disease and a healthy group of blood donors were genotyped for the -924A/G polymorphism. The -924A/G polymorphism was associated with clinical and pathological aspects and biomarkers of viral infections only in men, with functional differences between different infections. Conclusions:A relationship is suggested between sex and FOXP3polymorphisms, resulting in different biological repercussions.