Association of COL11A1 4603C/T polymorphism with cervical disc degeneration in collegiate wrestlers.

BACKGROUND: The authors previously identified that COL11A1 gene polymorphism is not a susceptibility factor for lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) in athletes. However, the relationship between COL11A1 gene polymorphism and cervical disc degeneration (CDD) remains unclear. We hypothesized that significant associations between COL11A1 4603C/T gene polymorphism and CDD, but not LDD, in collegiate wrestlers exist. This study aims to examine the relationship between CDD, LDD, and COL11A1 4603C/T gene polymorphism in collegiate wrestlers.

METHODS: The subjects enrolled in this study were 92 (Study1) and 123 (Study2) Japanese collegiate male wrestlers. Study1 and Study2 were conducted in 2010-2012 and 2012-2015, respectively.

RESULTS: CDD and LDD prevalence among the wrestlers was 51.1% (47/92) and 43.9% (54/123), respectively. We found that COL11A1 4603C/T was significantly associated with CDD, but not with LDD. Using logistic regression analysis with concomitant confounding factors, we further confirmed that COL11A1 4603C/T was a significant risk factor for CDD (codominant genetic model [CC vs CT+TT]: adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-4.59; dominant genetic model [CC+CT vs TT]: adjusted OR = 11.71; 95% CI, 1.36-101.06).

CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that COL11A1 4603C/T gene polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of CDD, but not LDD, in Japanese collegiate wrestlers.