A common variant in RAB27A gene is associated with fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels in adults.

BACKGROUND: Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a biomarker for eosinophilic inflammation in the airways and for responsiveness to corticosteroids in asthmatics. OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify in adults the genetic determinants of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels and to assess whether environmental and disease-related factors influence these associations. METHODS: We performed a genome-wide association study of FeNO through meta-analysis of two independent discovery samples of European ancestry: the outbred EGEA study (French Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma, N = 610 adults) and the Hutterites (N = 601 adults), a founder population living on communal farms. Replication of main findings was assessed in adults from an isolated village in Sardinia (Talana study, N = 450). We then investigated the influence of asthma, atopy and tobacco smoke exposure on these genetic associations, and whether they were also associated with FeNO values in children of the EAGLE (EArly Genetics & Lifecourse Epidemiology, N = 8858) consortium. RESULTS: We detected a common variant in RAB27A (rs2444043) associated with FeNO that reached the genome-wide significant level (P = 1.6 × 10(-7) ) in the combined discovery and replication adult data sets. This SNP belongs to member of RAS oncogene family (RAB27A) and was associated with an expression quantitative trait locus for RAB27A in lymphoblastoid cell lines from asthmatics. A second suggestive locus (rs2194437, P = 8.9 × 10(-7) ) located nearby the sodium/calcium exchanger 1 (SLC8A1) was mainly detected in atopic subjects and influenced by inhaled corticosteroid use. These two loci were not associated with childhood FeNO values. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study identified a common variant located in RAB27A gene influencing FeNO levels specifically in adults and with a biological relevance to the regulation of FeNO levels. This study provides new insight into the biological mechanisms underlying FeNO levels in adults.

The miscarriage-associated HLA-G -725G allele influences transcription rates in JEG-3 cells.

BACKGROUND: HLA-G is a non-classical HLA with important immunomodulatory roles in pregnancy. A polymorphism in the promoter region, -725G, was previously associated with sporadic miscarriage in women who were unselected with respect to reproductive history. In this study, the transcription levels of different HLA-G promoter haplotypes were examined to determine whether the miscarriage-associated -725G allele influences transcription. METHODS: Five naturally occurring promoter haplotypes and three variant haplotypes created by site-directed mutagenesis were sub-cloned into luciferase expression vectors and transfected into JEG-3 cells. Expression levels of these eight haplotypes were examined in cultured cells before and after treatment with interferon-beta (IFN-beta), cytosine-5-DNA methyltransferase (M. SssI) and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Differences in expression levels between haplotypes were determined by analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULT: Promoter haplotypes with the miscarriage-associated -725G allele were expressed at significantly higher levels in all culture conditions compared with otherwise identical haplotypes that had a -725C or -725T allele. CONCLUSION: Variation in the HLA-G promoter region influences transcription rates. Contrary to expectations, increased expression of HLA-G may be disadvantageous in some pregnancies.

Variation in the type I interferon gene cluster on 9p21 influences susceptibility to asthma and atopy.

A genome-wide screen for asthma and atopy susceptibility alleles conducted in the Hutterites, a founder population of European descent, reported evidence of linkage with a short tandem repeat polymorphism (STRP) within the type I interferon (IFN) gene cluster on chromosome 9p21. The goal of this study was to identify variation within the IFN gene cluster that influences susceptibility to asthma and atopic phenotypes. We screened approximately 25 kb of sequence, including the flanking sequence of all 15 functional genes and the single coding exon in 12, in Hutterites representing different IFNA-STRP genotypes. We identified 78 polymorphisms, and genotyped 40 of these (in 14 genes) in a large Hutterite pedigree. Modest associations (0.003