Polymorphism in the human 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase genes (OAS), associated with predisposition to severe forms of tick-borne encephalitis, in populations from North Eurasia

2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetases are a family of interferon-induced enzymes which play an important role in the antiviral defense in mammals. In human genome three genes encoding functional synthetases (OAS1, OAS2 and OAS3) form a cluster. Previously we found that particular genotypes and/or alleles of five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within OAS2 and OAS3 genes are associated with predisposition to severe forms of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) in Russian population. In current study we investigated the distribution of three of that SNPs (OAS3rs2285932 (C/T Ile438Ile), OAS3rs2072136 (G/A, Ser567Ser) and OAS2 rs15895 (G/A, Trp720Ter relative to p71 isoform)) in seven populations from North Eurasia: Caucasians (Russians and Germans (from Altai region)), Central Asian Mongoloids (Altaians, Khakasses, Tuvinians and Shorians) and Arctic Mongoloids (Chukchi). Differences between populations in genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies and in linkage disequilibrium structure for these SNPs were detected. We found that these frequencies correlate with the ethnicity of the populations and with their supposed differential exposure to TBE virus. Particularly, the lowest frequencies of G/G genotype for OAS3 gene rs2072136 SNP (that according to our previously obtained data is associated with predisposition to severe forms of TBE) were found in Altaians, Khakasses, Tuvinians and Shorians who may highly contact with TBE virus in places of their habitation. Thus, data obtained allow to suppose that TBE virus might act as a selection factor for particular OAS genes variants in Central Asian Mongoloids.