Cytokine gene polymorphism and asthma susceptibility, progress and control level

• Published in: Molecular biology reports 2012-02, Vol.39 (2), p.1845-1853
• Main Authors: Daneshmandi, Saeed, Pourfathollah, Ali Akbar, Pourpak, Zahra, Heidarnazhad, Hasan, Kalvanagh, Parisa Amir
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Animal Anatomy; Animal Biochemistry; Asthma; Asthma - epidemiology; Asthma - genetics; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cytokines; Cytokines - genetics; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; gamma -Interferon; Gene polymorphism; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; Histology; Humans; Immunoglobulin E; Inflammation; Inflammatory diseases; Interferon-gamma - genetics; Interleukin 6; Interleukin-4 - genetics; Interleukin-6 - genetics; Life Sciences; Lung; Male; Maximal Midexpiratory Flow Rate; Middle Aged; Molecular biology; Morphology; Pathogenesis; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Restriction fragment length polymorphism; Risk Factors; Serum levels; Transforming Growth Factor beta - genetics; Transforming growth factor- beta; Tumor necrosis factor- alpha; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics
• ISSN: 0301-4851; 1573-4978
• DOI: 10.1007/s11033-011-0927-7

Asthma is a multifactor inflammatory disorder, and its management requires understanding of its various pathogenesis and control mechanisms. Cytokines and other inflammatory mediators are important factors in asthma pathophysiology. In this study, we evaluated the role of cytokine polymorphisms in the asthma susceptibility, progress, control, and lung functions. IL-4-C590T polymorphism by PCR-RFLP method, IFN-γ T+874A, TNF-α-A308G, IL-6 G−174C and TGF-β T+869C variants by ARMS-PCR method and IgE serum level by ELISA technique were determined in 81 asthmatic patients and 124 normal subjects. Asthma diagnosis, treatment and control levels were considered using standard schemes and criteria. TNF-α−308GA genotype was more frequent in asthmatics ( P  = 0.025, OR 3.352), and polymorphisms between different asthma control levels ( P  > 0.05) were not different. IFN-γ+874AT genotype had a positive correlation with the familial history of asthma ( P  = 0.034, OR 2.688). IL-6−174C allele ( P  = 0.045), TNF-α−308GG genotype ( P  = 0.002) and TNF-α−308G allele ( P  = 0.004) showed reduced values, and TNF-α−308GA genotype ( P  = 0.002) increased FEF25-75 value in asthmatics. IFN-γ+874AA genotype caused a decrease in FVC factor ( P  = 0.045). This study showed that TNF-α−308GA is a risk factor for asthma, but cytokine gene variants do not affect asthma control and IgE serum levels. Variants producing lower levels of IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ are associated with reduced pulmonary capacities. To achieve an appropriate schema for asthma management, further studies with consideration of different aspects in a larger group of patients would be more elucidative.