Association between IL1R1 gene polymorphisms and childhood asthma

Abstract:

Objective To investigate the association of two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL1R1 gene (rs1558641 and rs949963) with the susceptibility to asthma in children from Central China. Methods A casecontrol study was performed in the asthma group and the control group, consisting of 208 children with asthma and 223 normal children from Central China, respectively. The genotypes of two SNPs in IL1R1 gene, rs1558641 and rs949963, were identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The serum level of IL1R1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results There were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of rs1558641 between the asthma and control groups. In terms of rs949963, the frequencies of GG genotype and alleles were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (P<0.05). The asthma group had a significantly higher serum level of IL1R1 than the control group (P=0.011). Moreover, the serum level of IL1R1 was significantly higher in patients with GG genotype than in those with AA or AG genotype for rs949963 (P=0.028). Conclusions IL1R1 SNP rs949963 is associated with the susceptibility to asthma in children from Central China and may increase the serum expression of IL1R1.