RESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The neurotransmitter, 5-hydroxytryptamine, acts as an immunomodulator by stimulating the release of inflammatory cytokines and regulating the function of dendritic cells and monocytes. The 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 4 (HTR4) gene is located in a region previously linked to an increased risk of asthma and atopy. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between HTR4 and asthma. METHODS: Thirty-two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in HTR4 were investigated by direct sequencing of 24 DNA samples from unrelated Korean subjects. RESULTS: The 32 genetic variants comprised 22 intronic SNP, two SNP in the 3'-untranslated region (exon 7) and eight SNP in the 3'-downstream region. Logistic regression analysis showed that two intronic polymorphisms were significantly associated with the risk of asthma. Two minor HTR4 alleles, +142828G>A and +122769G>A, occurred at significantly higher frequencies in the asthmatic group than in the healthy control group (49.59% vs 42.29%, P=0.003, and 47.99% vs 40.35%, P=0.008, respectively), and these differences remained significant after correction for multiple testing (P=0.05, dominant mode of inheritance; and P=0.03, dominant mode, respectively). Haplotype analysis revealed three haplotype blocks. The frequency of haplotype 1 in block 2 was significantly higher in asthmatics (P=0.003, dominant mode), whereas the frequency of haplotype 4 in block 3 was significantly lower in asthmatics (P=0.0009, dominant mode). CONCLUSIONS: SNP and haplotypes of the HTR4 gene were associated with the asthma phenotype and genetic variation of HTR4 may affect susceptibility to the development of asthma.