Asthma Genetics (asthma + genetics)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


A retrospective collaboration on chromosome 5 by the International Consortium on Asthma Genetics (COAG)

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 1 2001
L.J. Palmer
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Overview on the current status of asthma genetics

THE CLINICAL RESPIRATORY JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009
Eva Halapi
Abstract Introduction:, Asthma is a complex heterogeneous and mutifactorial disease occurring at the interface of multiple genes that interact with various environmental stimuli insulting the immune system at different levels and different times of disease susceptibility. Objective:, The present paper is a review of the current status of the genetics of asthma. Results:, Sequence variants in hundreds of genes have been associated with asthma using both family-based and case control screening methods. Conclusion:, As the number of genes known to be associated with asthma risk is rapidly growing, it is essential to begin integrating epidemiologic, genetic and genomic strategies to unravel the relationships between genotype and phenotype, and elucidate the pathogenesis of asthma with the goal to make clinical use of these discoveries. Please cite this paper as: Halapi E and Bjornsdottir US. Overview on the current status of asthma genetics. The Clinical Respiratory Journal 2009; 3: 2,7. [source]


Serum metalloproteinase leukolysin (MMP-25/MT-6): a potential metabolic marker for atopy-associated inflammation

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 6 2010
M. N. Blumenthal
Summary Background Leukolysin is a novel matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-25/MT-6) released mainly by granulocytic cells, primarily neutrophils, which are implicated in chronic airways inflammation. Objective To determine if leukolysin might be a serum marker for atopic asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods Three study populations were evaluated: (1) nuclear families with medical history of atopic asthma (N=337), (2) married-in individuals from an independent study of asthma genetics (N=122) and (3) randomly selected males with diagnosis of COPD (N=100). Each person was screened for asthma or COPD symptoms, respiratory function by standardized spirometry and serum total IgE and leukolysin and anti-IL1 levels by immunoassay. Study groups (1 and 2) were also screened by skin prick test using a battery of 14 common aeroallergens. Heritability estimates for leukolysin and total IgE were made by variance components analysis. Results For those without asthma or who had asthma defined as having symptoms, a physician's diagnosis and bronchial hyper-reactivity as demonstrated by reversibility in response to albuteral and/or bronchial reactivity as measured by a methacholine challenge, serum leukolysin levels were found to be higher for those with any positive skin test result. This paralleled trends for serum total IgE. In the nuclear families and COPD patients, serum leukolysin levels were significantly elevated for those who also had elevated total IgE levels (log[IgE]>2.0) compared with those with lower IgE (log[IgE]<2.0). Serum IL-1 levels correlated with the leukolycin levels. In contrast to IgE, leukolysin showed no apparent inherited component. Conclusion Among individuals with history of chronic airways inflammation (asthma and COPD) serum leukolysin may be a metabolic marker associated with chronic atopy-associated respiratory inflammation. Common factors may stimulate increased production or release of both leukolysin from myeloid cells and IgE from lymphoid cells. [source]