CD36 gene variants and their clinical relevance: a narrative review

Abstract

Objective: This article aimed to describe CD36 (SR-B2) gene variants and their clinical relevance by referring to existing related literature and electric database. Background: Human CD36 is a transmembrane glycoprotein expressed on platelets, monocytes, macrophages, endothelial, skeletal and cardiac myocytes, and several other cell types. In parenchymal cells, CD36 also recycles between subcellular compartments and the plasma membrane, thereby regulating its presence and thus activity at the plasma membrane. As a highly polymorphic gene, a lot of nucleotide variants in or out of the coding regions may decrease CD36 expression level, change extracellular ligand-binding domain, or even cause protein deficiency, which may affect CD36 function and be associated with some diseases. Methods: The medical literature of published investigational studies, systematic reviews, and database of National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) regarding CD36 gene variants and their clinical relevance were searched and analyzed. Conclusions: More than 30 thousand nucleotide variants were found in the CD36 gene, and at least 60 variants in the coding region can cause defective expression of CD36 antigen and lead to isoimmunization and further immune thrombocytopenia. Differential expression of CD36 glycoprotein, due to gene variants, on platelets, spleen monocytes and capillary endothelial cells also affects the severity of malaria development by varying the degree of adhesion to Plasmodium infected red blood cells. Furthermore, as a multifunctional receptor, CD36 mediates the cellular binding and recognition of various lipidic and proteinaceous ligands. Cellular responses to these ligands are involved in cell adhesion, angiogenesis, inflammatory response, oral fat perception and preferences, fatty acid processing and metabolism, and closely related to the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. Studies in different populations have found that multiple variants of CD36 gene impact on fat intake and obesity, fatty acid processing and other metabolic syndromes.