The evaluation of variants within eight collagen genes COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, COL15A1, COL22A1, and COL27A1 and a risk of non-contact knee ligament rupture in elite handball players: A case-control study

Authors

Katarzyna Krawczak-Wójcik, Faculty of Physical Education, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandFollow
Andrzej Mastalerz, Faculty of Physical Education, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandFollow
Aleksandra Bojarczuk, Faculty of Physical Education, Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport, Gdansk, PolandFollow
Monika Johne, Faculty of Physical Education, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandFollow
Alison V. September, Faculty of Health Sciences, Health through Physical Activity Lifestyle and Sport Research Centre, Division of Physiological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South AfricaFollow
Aleksandra Garbacz, Faculty of Animal Genetics and Conservation, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, PolandFollow
Katarzyna Komar, Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, WarsawFollow
Ewelina Maculewicz, Faculty of Physical Education, Jozef Pilsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Military Institute of Aviation Medicine, Warsaw, PolandFollow

Abstract

Introduction: Knee ligament ruptures are common injuries among athletes. While most previous studies examined single collagen gene polymorphisms, few have investigated haplotype-level associations across multiple genes, particularly in elite handball players. Materials and methods: This case-control study analyzed variants in eight collagen genes (COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, COL15A1, COL22A1, and COL27A1) in 103 elite Polish handball players with non-contact knee ligament rupture and 226 matched controls. Results: The COL22A1 rs11784270 CC genotype was associated with an increased risk (OR = 2.88, p = 0.01), with the strongest effect in the dominant model (OR = 1.91, p = 0.01). COL1A2 rs42524 CC (OR = 3.52, p = 0.03) and rs2621215 GG (OR = 3.19, p = 0.048) were also risk-associated. The COL1A2 G–T haplotype was associated with a lower risk (p = 0.01 in additive and dominant models), while the C–G haplotype was associated with a higher risk (p = 0.03 additive, p = 0.02 recessive). The A–T haplotype of COL22A1 showed an as-sociation with a lower risk (p = 0.01 additive, p = 0.04 dominant, p = 0.03 recessive), whereas the C–T haplotype was associated with a higher risk (p = 0.01 additive, p = 0.02 dominant). Conclusions: COL1A2 and COL22A1 variants may provide insights relevant to future approaches to injury prevention.

Recommended Citation

Krawczak-Wojcik K, Mastalerz A, Bojarczuk A, Johne M, September AV, Garbacz A, Komar K, Maculewicz E. The evaluation of variants within eight collagen genes COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL11A1, COL15A1, COL22A1, and COL27A1 and a risk of non-contact knee ligament rupture in elite handball players: A case-control study. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2025;17(3):Article7. DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.17.3.07

Author ORCID Identifier

Katarzyna Krawczak-Wójcik ORCID 0000-0001-7557-8059

Andrzej Mastalerz ORCID 0000-0003-2031-5563

Aleksandra Bojarczuk ORCID 0000-0002-4398-3815

Monika Johne ORCID 0000-0002-7066-8909

Alison V. September ORCID 0000-0003-0950-286X

Aleksandra Garbacz ORCID 0000-0003-0050-7891

Katarzyna Komar ORCID 0009-0002-0636-2961

Ewelina Maculewicz ORCID 0000-0002-3122-3085

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.