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The role of molecular genetic markers in the development of comorbid diseases in premature infants

https://doi.org/10.29235/1814-6023-2026-23-2-104-114

Abstract

The incidence of morbidity in premature infants remains consistently high. The development of diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, and periventricular leukomalacia in premature infants is a significant medical and social problem. The search for new markers of genetic predisposition to comorbid diseases in premature infants will contribute to an understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms and will help determine the risks of pathologу development. The aim of this study was to identify the influence of polymorphisms of antioxidant system genes (SOD2, GSTP1) and matrix metalloproteinase genes (MMP2, MMP9) on the formation of comorbid diseases in premature infants. It was found that carriage of the T allele (CT and TT genotypes) of the rs4880 polymorphism of the SOD2 gene is associated with an increased concentration of lactate in the blood ( p = 0.022). This finding may indicate its role in metabolism and response to oxidative stress. At the same time, the influence of genetic polymorphism of antioxidant defense enzymes (SOD2 and GSTP1) on the risk of developing comorbid pathology has not been established. The factors involved in the pathogenesis of comorbid pathology in preterm infants born at 28–31 weeks of gestation are the AA genotype of the rs17576 locus in the MMP9 gene, as well as the combination of the AA genotype of the rs17576 locus in the MMP9 gene with the GG genotype of the rs243866 locus in the MMP2 gene ( p = 0.01 and p = 0.0037, respectively).

About the Authors

A. P. Mikhalenka
Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
Belarus

Alena P. Mikhalenka – Ph. D. (Biol.), Leading Researcher

27, Akademicheskaya Str., 220072, Minsk



A. P. Sukharava
Clinical Maternity Hospital of the Minsk Region; Belarusian State Medical University
Belarus

Anastasiya P. Sukharava – Neonatologist, Head of the Department. Clinical Maternity Hospital of the Minsk Region

16, F. Skoriny Str., 220076, Minsk



M. V. rtsiusheuskaya
Clinical Maternity Hospital of the Minsk Region; Belarusian State Medical University
Belarus

Maryna V. Artsiusheuskaya – Ph. D. (Med.), Assistant of the Department. Institute for Advanced Training and Retraining of Healthcare Personnel of BSMU

3/3, P. Brovki Str., 220013



A. Kilchevsky
Institute of Genetics and Cytology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus
Belarus

Aleksandr V. Kilchevsky – Academician, D. Sc. (Biol.), Professor, Scientific Director of the Laboratory

27, Akademicheskaya Str., 220072, Minsk



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Mikhalenka A.P., Sukharava A.P., rtsiusheuskaya M.V., Kilchevsky A. The role of molecular genetic markers in the development of comorbid diseases in premature infants. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Medical series. 2026;23(2):104-114. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.29235/1814-6023-2026-23-2-104-114

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