The interleukin-4 -589C/T polymorphism and the risk of asthma: a meta-analysis including 7,345 cases and 7,819 controls

Interleukin 4 gene polymorphisms and the risk of tuberculosis: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is implicated in the progression of tuberculosis (TB); however, these results remain controversial.

OBJECTIVES

This meta-analysis examined the relationship between IL and 4 polymorphisms (-589C/T, +4221C > A, and -33C/T) and the risk of TB.

METHODS

A retrospective database analysis was conducted using the CNKI and PubMed databases. Using fixed- and random-effects models, we calculated the combined odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

We identified 14 articles related to this topic, and theresultsshowed that the IL-4 -589C/T polymorphism didnotinfluencethe risk of TB. However,in subgroupanalyses we found that the IL-4 -589C/T polymorphism was associated with the risk of TB inCaucasians (recessive modelOR = 2.54, 95% CI = 1.30-4.96). In our study, the IL-4--33C/T polymorphism was not associated with the risk of TB. The IL-4 + 4221C > A polymorphism was associated with the risk of TB (recessive model: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.07-1.83).

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis showed that the IL-4 -589C/T polymorphism was associated with TB risk in Caucasian populations, and the IL-4 + 4221C > A polymorphism is associated with TB risk.

Genetic markers of children asthma: predisposition to disease course variants

Asthma is a heterogeneous and often difficult to treat condition that results in a disproportionate cost to healthcare systems. Children with severe asthma are at increased risk for adverse outcomes including medication-related side effects, life-threatening exacerbations, and impaired quality of life. An important therapeutic focus is to achieve disease control, which is supposed to involve a personalized approach to treatment of asthma of any severity. Asthma is a multifactorial disease with a significant genetic determinant, however, the inheritance of asthma has not been fully elucidated. Polymorphic genes of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, play an important role in developing various disease forms. In the current study, large-scale original data on the prevalence of cytokine gene genotypes (IL2, IL4, IL5, IL6, IL10, IL12, IL13, IL17A, IL31, IL33, IFNG, TNFA) among Russian children with asthma in Krasnoyarsk region have been obtained. Genotyping was carried out using real-time PCR. We identified markers predisposing to the development of different variants of the course of childhood asthma: the CT genotype and T allele of IL4 rs2243250 are associated with asthma (p < 0.05), especially in mild asthma and in controlled asthma. The TT genotype and allele T of IL13 rs1800925 are associated with severe and uncontrolled asthma (p < 0.05). The AA genotype of IL17A rs2275913, the TT genotype of IFNG rs2069705 and allelic A variants of TNFA rs1800629 are associated with mild asthma, and the TT genotype of IFNG rs2069705 is additionally associated with controlled asthma. The results obtained will supplement information on the prevalence of polymorphic variants of the cytokine genes in the Russian population and in asthma patients with different disease courses, which is likely to be used in order to shape a plan for Public Health Authority to prevent the development of severe uncontrolled asthma and to optimize personalized therapy.

Multi-ancestry meta-analysis of asthma identifies novel associations and highlights the value of increased power and diversity

Asthma is a complex disease that varies widely in prevalence across populations. The extent to which genetic variation contributes to these disparities is unclear, as the genetics underlying asthma have been investigated primarily in populations of European descent. As part of the Global Biobank Meta-analysis Initiative, we conducted a large-scale genome-wide association study of asthma (153,763 cases and 1,647,022 controls) via meta-analysis across 22 biobanks spanning multiple ancestries. We discovered 179 asthma-associated loci, 49 of which were not previously reported. Despite the wide range in asthma prevalence among biobanks, we found largely consistent genetic effects across biobanks and ancestries. The meta-analysis also improved polygenic risk prediction in non-European populations compared with previous studies. Additionally, we found considerable genetic overlap between age-of-onset subtypes and between asthma and comorbid diseases. Our work underscores the multi-factorial nature of asthma development and offers insight into its shared genetic architecture.

Polymorphisms in the interleukin 4 promoter -589C/T gene and the risk of asthma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

To identify the association between polymorphisms in the interleukin 4 (IL-4) promoter -589C/T gene and the risk of asthma.

METHODS

The databases of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Chongqing VIP (CQVIP), and Chinese Biomedical Literature (CBM) were searched and appropriate journal articles on the association between polymorphisms in the IL-4 promoter -589C/T gene and the risk of asthma were retrieved from establishment of the database to April 2021. All relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, to the exclusion of duplicate publications, studies with no whole composition, imperfect information or inability to extract data, animal experiments and reviews, and systematic reviews. The software Review manager 5.3 was used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

Literature search led to retrieving of 16 publications containing 3181 cases and 3786 controls. The results show that CT, CC, and T gene polymorphisms were risk factors for asthma [odds ratio (OR) =1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.89-1.24; OR =1.04, 95% CI: 0.85-1.27; OR =1.98, 95% CI: 1.54-2.53]. Ethnic subgroup analysis showed that genotype CT was associated with the risk of asthma in the Asian population (OR =1.75, 95% CI: 1.01-3.05).

DISCUSSION

Through the study of IL-4 (C-590T) gene polymorphism, it was found that CT, TT, and T gene polymorphism were risk factors for asthma, and the results suggested that this locus polymorphism was related to the risk of asthma. The results of subgroup analysis showed that CC and T gene polymorphisms were risk factors for asthma. Thus, IL-4(C-590T) may be the susceptibility gene of asthma.

Interleukin 4 gene polymorphism (-589C/T) and the risk of asthma: a meta-analysis and met-regression based on 55 studies

BACKGROUND

Numerous investigations have previously evaluated the association of interleukin (IL) 4 gene polymorphisms and the risk of asthma, conferring inconsistent results. To resolve the incongruent outcomes yielded from different single studies, we conducted the most up-to-date meta-analysis of IL4 gene -589C/T (rs2243250) polymorphism and susceptibility to asthma.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in ISI web of science, Scopus, Medline/PubMed databases prior to September 2020, and the pooled odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% CI were calculated to determine the association strength.

RESULTS

Literature search led to retrieving of 49 publications (55 case-control studies) containing 9572 cases and 9881 controls. It was revealed that IL4 gene -589C/T polymorphism increased the risk of asthma across all genetic models, including dominant model (OR = 1.22), recessive model (OR = 1.17), allelic model (OR = 1.21), and TT vs. CC model (OR = 1.34), but not the CT vs. TT model. The subgroup analysis by age indicated that IL4 gene -589C/T polymorphism was significantly associated with asthma risk in both pediatrics and adults. Additionally, the subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed significant association in Asian, American, and Europeans. Finally, subgroup analysis by East Asian and non-East Asian populations indicated significant associations.

CONCLUSIONS

The current meta-analysis revealed that IL4 gene -589C/T polymorphism was a susceptibility risk in both pediatrics and adults in the whole and different ethnic groups.

Strategies targeting the IL-4/IL-13 axes in disease

IL-4 and IL-13 are pleiotropic Th2 cytokines produced by a wide variety of different cell types and responsible for a broad range of biology and functions. Physiologically, Th2 cytokines are known to mediate host defense against parasites but they can also trigger disease if their activities are dysregulated. In this review we discuss the rationale for targeting the IL-4/IL-13 axes in asthma, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, COPD, cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune disease and fibrotic disease as well as evaluating the associated clinical data derived from blocking IL-4, IL-13 or IL-4 and IL-13 together.

High interleukin-4 expression and interleukin-4 gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to human paracoccidioidomycosis

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by dimorphic fungi from the Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex. Previous studies have demonstrated that the severity of disease is associated with a T-helper 2 immune response characterised by high interleukin (IL)-4 production. In the present study we analysed two polymorphisms in the IL-4 gene (-590 C/T and intron-3 microsatellite) in 76 patients with PCM and 73 control subjects from an endemic area. The production of IL-4 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after antigen or phytohaemagglutinin stimulation was determined by ELISA. A significant correlation was observed between the RP2/RP2 intron-3 genotype and infection with Paracoccidioides sp.(p = 0.011), whereas the RP1/RP1 genotype was correlated with resistance. No significant correlation was observed for the IL-4 promoter polymorphism. Furthermore, the low IL-4 expression observed in the control group compared with patients was associated with the RP1/RP1 genotype. These results suggest that IL-4 polymorphisms might be associated with the ability of the host to control Paracoccidioides sp.infection. The relevance of this polymorphism is supported by the observation that patients with disease produce high levels of IL-4 following mitogen or antigen stimulation. The IL-4 gene is located in the cytokine cluster region of chromosome 5 where other polymorphisms have also been described.

Pleiotropic Effects of Immune Responses Explain Variation in the Prevalence of Fibroproliferative Diseases

Many diseases are differentially distributed among human populations. Differential selection on genetic variants in ancestral environments that coincidentally predispose to disease can be an underlying cause of these unequal prevalence patterns. Selected genes may be pleiotropic, affecting multiple phenotypes and resulting in more than one disease or trait. Patterns of pleiotropy may be helpful in understanding the underlying causes of an array of conditions in a population. For example, several fibroproliferative diseases are more prevalent and severe in populations of sub-Saharan ancestry. We propose that this disparity is due to selection for an enhanced Th2 response that confers resistance to helminthic infections, and concurrently increases susceptibility to fibrosis due to the profibrotic action of Th2 cytokines. Many studies on selection of Th2-related genes for host resistance to helminths have been reported, but the pleiotropic impact of this selection on the distribution of fibrotic disorders has not been explicitly investigated. We discuss the disproportionate occurrence of fibroproliferative diseases in individuals of African ancestry and provide evidence that adaptation of the immune system has shaped the genetic structure of these human populations in ways that alter the distribution of multiple fibroproliferative diseases.

Correlation of an interleukin-4 gene polymorphism with susceptibility to severe enterovirus 71 infection in Chinese children

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) has caused many outbreaks of diseases among children worldwide since it was first reported in 1974, but its mechanism of pathogenesis remains unclear. This study was designed to investigate the possible association of the IL-4 -589C/T gene polymorphism with severity of EV71 infection in Chinese children. The IL-4 -589C/T gene polymorphism was detected in EV71-infected subjects (n = 185), including those with mild cases (n = 102) and severe cases (n = 83) as well as healthy controls (n = 234), using an improved multiplex ligation detection reaction (iMLDR) technique. The plasma levels of IL-4 and IFN-γ were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The presence of the CC genotype (p = 0.022) and the C allele (OR, 2.1; 95 % CI, 1.3-3.6; p = 0.004) was significantly higher in severe cases. Furthermore, the CC genotype and C allele were also more frequently found in cases of EV71 encephalitis (p < 0.05). The plasma levels of IL-4 of the CC (7.9 ± 1.3 pg/mL, p < 0.001) and CT genotype (6.8 ± 2.1 pg/mL, p < 0.01) were significantly elevated compared to those of the TT genotype, but the plasma levels of IFN-γ and the IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio were significantly lower for the CC and CT genotypes than for the TT genotype (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that the IL-4 -589C allele could be a susceptibility factor in the development of EV71 disease in Chinese children.

Analysis of genetic variants in the IL4 promoter and VNTR loci in Indian patients with Visceral Leishmaniasis

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is the most severest form of Leishmaniasis and resistance to infection is mediated by cellular immune responses. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) orchestrates of Th2 and Th1 immune responses during infections. In this study, we aimed to investigate possible association between three functional IL-4 polymorphisms -590C/T (rs2243250), -34C/T (rs2070874) and 70bp VNTR (rs79071878 in intron3) with VL in an Indian cohort comprising of 197 VL patients and 193 healthy controls. The three investigated IL-4 polymorphisms were in strong linkage disequilibrium. The investigated IL-4 alleles, genotypes and the reconstructed haplotypes were not significantly distributed between the VL patients and healthy controls. Our study signifies no possible association of functional IL-4 polymorphisms with Indian VL and postulate other vital genes involved in the IL-4 pathway may provide genetic clues to elucidate of IL-4 regulation and immune-pathogenesis during VL.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme I/D polymorphism is associated with pneumonia risk: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies examined the association between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphism and pneumonia, but their results were inconsistent. Thus, a meta-analysis was performed to clarify the effect of ACE I/D polymorphism on pneumonia risk and pneumonia-related mortality.

METHODS

The PubMed, Embase, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched for relevant studies published up to 27 April 2013. Data were extracted and pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

Pooled analysis of 12 case-control studies (1431 cases and 3600 controls) showed that there was a significant association between ACE I/D polymorphism and pneumonia risk in a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.30-1.80, p < 0.00001). No significant association between ACE I/D polymorphism and mortality was observed (OR = 2.68, 95% CI 0.80-8.90, p = 0.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis confirmed that ACE I/D polymorphism was associated with pneumonia risk. However, ACE I/D polymorphism was not associated with pneumonia mortality.

Interleukin-6 -634C/G polymorphism is associated with lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Several studies have examined the associations of polymorphisms in interleukin-6 (IL6) with lung cancer (LC) risk. However, the results were conflicting. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between IL6 polymorphisms and LC risk. Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) were searched. Data were extracted and pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Thirteen studies were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, a significant association between IL6 -634C/G polymorphism and LC susceptibility was observed for GG + CG vs. CC (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.47, P < 0.00001). This polymorphism was also significantly associated with LC risk in Asians (OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.20-1.47, P < 0.00001), female patients (OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.11-1.52, P = 0.0009), male patients (OR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.03-1.52, P = 0.02), non-small cell lung cancer patients (OR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.03-1.41, P = 0.02), small cell lung cancer patients (OR = 1.91, 95% CI 1.23-2.97, P = 0.004), smokers (OR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.21-1.65, P < 0.0001), and non-smokers (OR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.13-1.53, P = 0.0003), respectively. No significant result was found for IL6 -174C/G polymorphism. This meta-analysis suggested that IL6 -634C/G polymorphism was a risk factor for LC.

The associations between the Val158Met in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and the risk of uterine leiomyoma (ULM)

The Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene has been implicated in susceptibility to uterine leiomyoma (ULM), but the reported results were inconclusive. The aim of the study was to evaluate the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene and the risk of ULM by meta-analysis. A comprehensive electronic search for relevant articles was conducted in Pubmed, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang, and Weipu databases. Statistical analysis was performed by using the Revman4.2 software and Stata10.0 software. A total of 7 articles including 12 case-control studies were identified in this meta-analysis. The results showed that the polymorphism was associated with decreased risk of ULM (Met/Met+Val/Met vs. Met/Met: OR=0.84, 95% CI=0.70-0.99, Z=2.07, p=0.04). In the subgroup analyses by ethnicity, significant decreased risk was found among the black populations (OR=0.68, 95% CI=0.48-0.97, Z=2.15, p=0.03). The current meta-analysis suggested that the Val158Met polymorphism in the COMT gene was associated with decreased risk of ULM, especially in the black population. Future studies are needed to validate our conclusions.

The OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and the risk of esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1) Ser326Cys polymorphism has been implicated in susceptibility to esophageal cancer. Several studies investigated the association of this polymorphism with esophageal cancer in different populations. However, the results were contradictory. A meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between the OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and esophageal cancer susceptibility.

METHODS

Databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Weipu Database were searched to find relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations. A random-effects model was used.

RESULTS

Twelve studies involving 2363 cases and 3621 controls were included. Overall, a significant association between the OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and esophageal cancer was observed for Cys/Cys versus Cys/Ser+Ser/Ser (OR=1.40; 95% CI 1.12-1.74; p=0.003; Pheterogeneity=0.18). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, a significant association was found among Asians (OR=1.51; 95% CI 1.15-1.96; p=0.002; Pheterogeneity=0.22), but not among Caucasians (OR=1.21; 95% CI 0.81-1.81; p=0.35; Pheterogeneity=0.21). In the subgroup analysis by pathologic type, we found that the Cys/Cys genotype was associated with increased esophageal squamous cell carcinoma risk (OR=1.86; 95% CI 1.36-2.53; p<0.0001; Pheterogeneity=0.73).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggested that the OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism was a risk factor of esophageal cancer.

Association between interleukin-4 receptor α chain (IL4RA) I50V and Q551R polymorphisms and asthma risk: an update meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The associations between the interleukin-4 receptor α chain (IL4RA) I50V and Q551R polymorphisms and asthma risk remained controversial.

METHODS

We searched the Pubmed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases for studies published before February 2013. The strengths of the associations were calculated using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

A total of 50 studies were included in this meta-analysis. There was a significant association between the IL4RA I50V polymorphism and asthma risk in a dominant genetic model (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.23, P = 0.005). The IL4RA Q551R polymorphism was associated with a significantly elevated asthma risk in a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.22-1.75, P<0.0001). Subgroup analyses found that the IL4RA I50V polymorphism was significantly associated with asthma risk in Asians (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.31-2.25, P<0.0001), pediatric asthma risk (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.13-1.99, P = 0.005), and atopic asthma risk (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.27-2.79, P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this meta-analysis suggested that the IL4RA I50V and Q551R polymorphisms may be risk factors for developing asthma.