Polymorphic variants of interleukin-13 R130Q, interleukin-4 T589C, interleukin-4RA I50V, and interleukin-4RA Q576R in allergic rhinitis: A pilot study

Association of Interleukin-4 Receptor α Chain I50V Gene Variant (rs1805010) and Asthma in Iranian Population: A Case-control Study

Background

Asthma is one of the respiratory disorders caused by chronic airway inflammation. IL-4 has been identified as one of the participating interleukins in the severity of asthma.

Objective

A case-control study was conducted to determine the association of rs1805010, a single nucleotide polymorphism in the interleukin 4 receptor α chain, with asthma and immunoglobulin E and IL-17A serum levels in Iranian populations.

Methods

ELISA was used to investigate the relationship between three different varieties of SNP I50V and serum IL-17A levels, as well as total IgE levels. Based on GINA criteria, patients were classified into mild, moderate, and severe groups based on the association between SNP I50V, IL-17A, and total IgE. In order to analyze the data, the student-t-test and the one-way ANOVA were used.

Results

The SNP I50V was associated with asthma in a significant way (p = 0.001). IL-17A and total IgE levels were significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in control participants (p 0.05 and p 0.021, respectively), but neither showed any association with SNP I50V in the asthmatic patients.

Conclusion

Asthma patients have a higher prevalence of the I allele, reflecting the significance of Th2 cells. Although total IgE and IL-17A levels increased in both disease subgroups, total IgE level augmentation correlates directly with disease severity, while IL-17A level enhancement does not.

Prevalence, causes and treatments of allergic rhinitis in Malaysia: a literature review

Recently, allergic rhinitis (AR) cases have been surging rapidly in many developing countries. However, the prevalence, risk factors and treatment modalities for AR within the Malaysian population have not been thoroughly evaluated. The present study aimed to provide a complete review of literature on allergic rhinitis in Malaysia. Available data indicated that the prevalence of AR varied across different age groups and regions in Malaysia, but there is an increasing trend among the younger population. The key contributing factor is exposure and sensitization towards several airborne allergens, mainly house dust mites, cat fur and fungi, with possible genetic predispositions. In addition, variations in the symptom severity may be associated with racial orientations. For management of the disease, standard prescriptions of conventional drugs (antihistamines, intranasal corticosteroids and nasal decongestants) remain as the treatment of choice. A small proportion of the native residents tend to resort to alternative approaches of self-healing through aromatherapy and natural food consumption such as tiger’s milk mushroom and Tualang honey. In conclusion, the increase in the cases of AR in Malaysia is due to environmental and genetic factors which requires proper medical intervention as treatment strategies. The utilization of holistic approaches requires further studies and clear understanding prior to their integration into the standard of care. There are still many gaps in the knowledge and management of allergic rhinitis which demands further attention from the research community.

Serum level and clinical significance of vitamin E in pregnant women with allergic rhinitis

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis is a frequent disorder during pregnancy, while in children it is triggered by significantly lower serum vitamin E level. This research aimed to investigate whether serum vitamin E level exhibited clinical significance in pregnant women with allergic rhinitis.

METHODS

In this study, 37 pregnant women with allergic rhinitis and 35 healthy pregnant women were recruited. Allergic rhinitis severity was analyzed by the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) questionnaire. Blood samples were collected to evaluate serum vitamin E, interleukin (IL), and total IgE levels.

RESULTS

In pregnant women with allergic rhinitis, serum level of vitamin E was significantly lower than in healthy pregnant women. Serum vitamin E level in pregnant women with allergic rhinitis showed a negative correlation with TNSS, IL-13, IL-4, and total IgE levels.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this research has demonstrated that pregnant women with allergic rhinitis showed significantly lower serum level of vitamin E. The decreased vitamin E showed a correlation with the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis in pregnant women.

Polymorphic Variants of Interleukin-13 R130Q and Interleukin-4 T589C in Children with and without Cow's Milk Allergy

Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most frequent types of food allergy. The aim of the study was to investigate whether IL-13 R130Q and IL-4 T589C polymorphisms are associated with the risk of CMA in young Ukrainian children. A total of 120 children (age range: 1−3 years) participated in the study and were divided into two groups: CMA (n = 60) and healthy controls (CNT, n = 60). The CMA group had two subgroups: specific oral tolerance induction (SOTI, n = 30) and milk elimination diet (MED, n = 30). The CNT group had two subgroups: positive family history of allergy (+FHA, n = 24) and negative family history of allergy (−FHA, n = 36). In the CMA group, molecular genetic testing of CC, CT, and TT genotypes of single nucleotide IL-4 T589C gene polymorphisms showed significantly higher rates of the CC genotype compared to healthy controls (92.2% vs. 58.8%; p < 0.01). In the CMA group, molecular genetic testing of GG, GA, and AA genotypes of single nucleotide IL-13 R130Q gene polymorphisms showed significantly higher rates of GA and AA polymorphic locus genotypes compared to healthy controls (43.5% vs. 22.4%, p < 0.05 and 8.7% vs. 0%, p < 0.05, respectively). In future studies, the genotypic and allelic distribution of these polymorphic variants will be determined in children with CMA and healthy children.

Atopy manifestations in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia: correlation assessment with interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IgE level

BACKGROUND

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common type of cancer in the age range of under 15 years old and accounts for 25-30% of all childhood cancers. Although conventional chemotherapy regimens are used to improve the overall survival rate, it has been associated with some complications, amongst which allergic manifestations with unknown mechanisms are more common.

METHODS

Our study compared serum IgE and IL-4 concentration, as a hallmark of allergic responses in pediatric ALL patients before and after 6 months of intensive (high-dose) chemotherapy, to show whether changes in the level of these markers may be associated with atopy. Serum level of IL-4 and IgE was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.

RESULTS

The results showed that the level of IgE and IL-4 increased following chemotherapy in both ALL patients with and without atopy. In addition, post-chemotherapy treatment IgE and IL-4 levels were significantly elevated in patients with atopy compared to those without it. The difference between baseline and post-chemotherapy level of IgE and IL-4 was significantly higher in patients with atopy compared to those without it.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that showed a connection between post-chemotherapy allergic manifestations in pediatric ALL patients and IL-4 and IgE level. Flow cytometry analysis of the T-helper 2 (Th2) lymphocytes and other allergy-related T cell subsets like Tc2 and Th9 as well as the study of the genetic variations in atopy-related genes like IL-4/IL-4R, IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, and high affinity FcεRI IgE receptor and also HLA genes is necessary to clearly define the underlying mechanism responsible for post-chemotherapy hypersensitivity reaction in pediatric ALL patients.

Interleukin 4 and Interleukin 4 receptor alpha gene variants and risk of atopy - A case control study based assessment

INTRODUCTION

IL4 pathway is known to upregulate IgE mediated immune responses and responsible for the manifestation of Atopic disorders. The current study was aimed to elucidate the genetic variations of Interleukin 4 (IL4) and Interleukin 4 receptor alpha (IL4R) genes and their possible association with atopic subjects.

METHODS

The well-designed questionnaire was used to collect the subject demographic and clinical details. Biochemical parameters were analysed using Chemiluminescent Immunoassay (CLIA) technique. The genotyping was performed using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTS

We observed a statistically significant difference of serum Immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels among cases and controls (P<0.05). Subjects harbouring the variant genotypes of I50V and Q576R single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL4R gene showed statistically differential risk towards atopic disorders. However, the variants genotype of 70 bp VNTR polymorphism in IL4 gene showed a protective role towards in predisposition to Atopy. On stratification, the above genetic variants had a significant impact on modifiable and non-modifiable factors associated with the disease.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates that increased IgE levels and IL4 gene variants (I50V and Q576R) are significantly associated towards predisposition to allergic disorders in this study population.

IL-4 rs2243250 polymorphism associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis: a meta-analysis

Objective: The relationship between IL-4 rs2243250 polymorphism and the risk of allergic rhinitis is not clear at present. The present study aims to evaluate the exact association between IL-4 rs2243250 polymorphism and susceptibility to allergic rhinitis by a meta-analysis.

Methods: The studies about IL-4 rs2243250 polymorphism associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis were searched using PubMed, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and China Wanfang databases. The last search time was on March 1, 2021. Data analysis was performed using Stata 15.0 software.

Results: Nine documents were enrolled, from which 1709 patients with allergic rhinitis were included. Among them, six genotype frequencies in the control group conformed to Hardy–Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE). The meta-analysis of all included studies showed significant heterogeneity of each gene model. After omitting the studies whose genotype frequency in the control group did not meet the requirements of HWE, no significant heterogeneity was found in each gene model. The meta-analysis results of the control group genotypes in line with the HWE showed statistically significant differences in the pooled odds ratio (OR) of allele model (T vs. C), recessive model (TT vs. TC+CC) and homozygous model (TT vs. CC), which were 1.19 (95%CI: 1.04–1.35), 1.28 (95%CI: 1.06–1.55) and 1.56 (95%CI: 1.13–2.17), respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in dominant and heterozygous genetic models.

Conclusion: IL-4 rs2243250 single nucleotide polymorphism associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis, allele T and genotype TT could increase the risk of allergic rhinitis.

Association of HLA-DQ and IL13 gene variants with challenge-proven shrimp allergy in West Bengal, India

Little is known about genetic factors and mechanisms underlying shrimp allergy. Genome-wide association studies identified HLA class-II and IL13 genes as highly plausible candidates for shrimp allergy. The present study was designed to investigate potential associations of HLA-DQ rs9275596, IL13 rs20541, and IL13 rs1800925 polymorphisms with challenge-proven shrimp allergy using the data from 532 people of West Bengal, India; selected on basis of positive skin prick test, elevated specific IgE and medical history. Risk genotypes, i.e., HLA-DQ rs9275596 CC, IL13 rs20541 AA, and IL13 rs1800925 TT, were found to be significantly associated with challenge positive shrimp allergy (P = 0.04, 0.01, and 0.03, respectively). Distribution of genotypes for HLA-DQ and IL13 polymorphisms in allergic and control subjects showed significant difference between younger (20-40 years) and older (> 40 years) age group (P = 0.006). Risk genotypes significantly associated with elevated shrimp-specific IgE. IL13 TA haplotype significantly associated with shrimp allergy and elevated specific IgE (P = 0.02). Synergistic effect of IL13 TA haplotype-HLA-DQ rs9275596 CC genotype interaction significantly elevated specific IgE (P = 0.03). The present study suggests that HLA-DQ and IL13 polymorphisms pose major risk for shrimp allergic patients in West Bengal, India and thus could be helpful for early target-specific therapeutic intervention in near future.

Relationships Between IL-13 and IL-4 Genotypes and Aeroallergens with Risk of Allergic Rhinitis in Iranian-Azeri

Background: Up to 40% of the world populations are affected by allergic rhinitis (AR). Interplay between genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors leads to allergic disease. Objective: In this study, we evaluated the accompaniment between polymorphic variants of IL-13 and IL-4 and aeroallergens among Iranian-Azeri children and adolescent in AR's risk. Methods: Five-hundred AR patients and 300 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study after diagnosis via blood testing for IgE and skin prick test by subspecialty of Allergy and Immunology from Azerbaijan, northwest of Iran, from 2017 to 2019. Genomic DNA was prepared from all samples for genotyping of IL-4 and IL-13. Results: We identified genetic variation of IL-13 and IL-4 and important aeroallergens that could increase the AR risk during childhood and adolescent. The risk of AR increased in the subjects with +2044GA genotype of IL13 [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.80; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.97-3.33] and -590CT genotype of IL4 (adjusted OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.00-3.87) in childhoods, compared with the control subjects. However, none of genotypes and allele frequencies of IL4 -590C/T and IL13 +2044G/A polymorphisms revealed significant variation between the AR patients and controls in adulthood. The frequency of sensitization to pollens was high in all genotypes of IL4 -590C/T and IL13 +2044G/A polymorphisms in both age groups of AR patients. Conclusion: AR is considered to be the most common form of atopic disease. Susceptible individuals had family history of allergic disease and indicated sensitivity to various environmental factors. In this study, pollen and feather played an important role in occurrence of AR. Childhood with GA at IL13 +2044 and CT at IL4 -590 are at increased risk for AR. Moreover, further studies with more samples are required to confirm our findings and also to help us develop new procedure for genetically detecting more efficient proceedings of prevention and intervention.

Pathophysiological aspects of Aspergillus colonization in disease

Aspergillus colonization of the lower respiratory airways is common in normal people, and of little clinical significance. However, in some patients, colonization is associated with severe disease including poorly controlled asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) with sputum plugs, worse lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary aspergillosis (COPD), invasive aspergillosis, and active infection in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). Therefore, understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms of fungal colonization in disease is essential to develop strategies to avert or minimise disease. Aspergillus cell components promoting fungal adherence to the host surface, extracellular matrix, or basal lamina are indispensable for pathogen persistence. However, our understanding of individual differences in clearance of A. fumigatus from the lung in susceptible patients is close to zero.

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.

Gene Polymorphism of Interleukin-4, Interleukin-4 Receptor and STAT6 in Children with Atopic Dermatitis in Taif, Saudi Arabia

AIM OF STUDY

This work was performed to evaluate the level of IL-4, and to clarify the role of IL-4 gene polymorphism at position cytosine -590-to-thyamine (C-590T), IL-4Rα gene polymorphism at position adenine +4679-to-guanine (A+4679G) [isoleucine-50-valine (I50V)] and STAT6 gene polymorphism at position guanine 2964-to-adenine (G2964A) in Saudi children with non-atopic dermatitis (non-AD) and atopic dermatitis (AD) to identify their role in the pathogenesis of these diseases.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

This study included 150 children: 50 healthy children as controls, 50 with non-AD, and 50 with AD. They were subjected to full clinical examination, complete blood picture, skin prick test, and determination of serum interleukin-4 (IL-4) and total immunoglobulin-E (IgE) levels. Detection of interleukin-4 gene (C-590T), interleukin-4 receptor alpha gene (A+4679G) (I50V), and STAT6 gene (G2964A) polymorphisms were performed by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTS

There was a significant (P < 0.01) association between genotype and allele frequencies of IL-4Rα (A+4679G) (I50V) polymorphism in the AD group (but not non-AD group). Moreover, there was a significant association between genotype and allele frequencies of the STAT6 (G2946A) polymorphism in the non-AD (P < 0.05) and AD (P < 0.01) groups. On the other hand, there was no significant association between genotype and allele frequencies of the (C-590T) polymorphism in the non-AD group and AD group. There was a significant (P < 0.001) higher total IgE level in patients compared to the controls. Moreover, the mean values of total IgE were significantly different among the different allelic variants of (C-590T), (I50V), (G2964A) polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and STAT6 genes, respectively, in all the studied groups. On the other hand, there was no significant difference of serum IL-4 levels among all the studied patients, or among the different allelic variants of (C-590T), (I50V), (G2964A) polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-4Rα, and STAT6 genes, respectively.

CONCLUSION

IL-4Rα gene (I50V) and STAT6 gene (G2964) polymorphisms may play a role in development of eczema; however, the IL-4 gene polymorphism (C-590T) had no relationship with susceptibility to the disease among Saudi children.

Association between genes encoding components of the IL-4/IL-4 receptor pathway and dermatitis in children

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether IL-4, IL-4Rα and STAT6 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to dermatitis in Egyptian children.

METHODS

We genotyped three groups of children, consisting of 106 atopic dermatitis (AD) children, 95 non-AD children, and 100 of healthy controls, for IL-4 (-590 C/T), (-33 C/T), IL-4Rα (I50V), (Q576R) and STAT6 (2964 G/A), (2892 C/T) gene polymorphisms using PCR-RFLP assay. Total serum IgE and serum IL-4 levels were detected by ELISA.

RESULTS

There was a non-significant association of IL-4 -590 C/T, -33 C/T polymorphisms in the children with non-AD or those with AD when compared with the controls. We identified a significant association between IL-4Rα I50V, Q576R polymorphisms and dermatitis susceptibility in AD (p=0.002, <0.001 respectively), whereas no such association was observed in non-AD group (p=0.52, 0.99 respectively). A significant association between STAT6 polymorphisms and both types of dermatitis was found. Patients who were carriers of IL4 -590C, IL-4Rα I50V G, STAT6 2964 A and STAT6 2892 T had an increased risk of AD [OR and 95% CI: 3.2 (2.5-4.2), p=0.005]. Furthermore, there was no relation between each polymorphism and serum IL-4 level (p>0.05 for each) while homozygosity for the risk alleles of IL-4, IL-4Rα and STAT6 SNPs were significantly associated with increased total IgE levels in all subjects.

CONCLUSION

In Egyptian children, the IL-4Rα and the STAT6 polymorphism may play a role in susceptibility to AD. In addition, gene-gene interaction between the IL-4, the IL-4Rα and the STAT6 significantly increases an individual's susceptibility to AD.

Comparison of the nasal release of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, CCL13/MCP-4, and CCL26/eotaxin-3 in allergic rhinitis during season and after allergen challenge

BACKGROUND

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by local overproduction of type 2 cytokines and tissue eosinophilia. Recent research suggests the involvement of additional cytokines such as IL-17, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 26/eotaxin-3, and CCL13/monocyte chemoattractant protein-4 (MCP-4) in its pathophysiology. Furthermore, bronchial epithelial cells treated with IL-17 and type 2 cytokines distinctively up-regulated eotaxin-3 gene expression. In this study we investigated the kinetics of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, eotaxin-3, and MCP-4 in seasonal allergic rhinitis volunteers after nasal allergen challenge (NAC) and their release during natural pollen exposure.

METHODS

The nasal lavages of 15 symptomatic allergic and 14 nonallergic subjects were collected during the pollination season. Additionally, six allergic subjects underwent a single unilateral nasal allergen and control challenge out of season, and nasal secretions were collected. Levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, eotaxin-3, and MCP-4 in nasal lavages and secretions were measured using an electrochemiluminescent assay.

RESULTS

After NAC, allergic subjects had a significant immediate response of nasal symptoms as well as a significant increase at 5 hours of IL-4, IL-10, and IL-17 and at 2, 5, and 24 hours significantly raising levels of eotaxin-3. IL-17 and eotaxin-3 concentrations at 5 hours were correlated (r = 0.94; p = 0.005). During natural pollen exposure, barely detectable levels of IL-17 in allergic subjects were also correlated with eotaxin-3 (r = 0.62; p = 0.01). Eotaxin-3 and MCP-4 levels were significantly elevated 9- or 3.7-fold, respectively, and IL-10 and, unexpectedly, IL-4 were significantly lower in allergic subjects compared with nonallergic subjects.

CONCLUSION

Nasal IL-17, MCP-4, and, possibly, eotaxin-3 may aggravate and IL-10 may alleviate nasal mucosal allergy.