IFNG+874A/T polymorphisms and IFNG CA repeat polymorphism associated with asthma in Asian--a meta-analysis

Genetic Mechanisms of Asthma and the Implications for Drug Repositioning

Asthma is a chronic disease that is caused by airway inflammation. The main features of asthma are airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and reversible airway obstruction. The disease is mainly managed using drug therapy. The current asthma drug treatments are divided into two categories, namely, anti-inflammatory drugs and bronchodilators. However, disease control in asthma patients is not very efficient because the pathogenesis of asthma is complicated, inducing factors that are varied, such as the differences between individual patients. In this paper, we delineate the genetic mechanisms of asthma, and present asthma-susceptible genes and genetic pharmacology in an attempt to find a diagnosis, early prevention, and treatment methods for asthma. Finally, we reposition some clinical drugs for asthma therapy, based on asthma genetics.

Early-life antibiotic use is associated with wheezing among children with high atopic risk: a prospective European study

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the relationship between antibiotic use and asthma in the children with a higher risk of allergic sensitization. We examine the association between the use of specific therapeutic antibiotics in the first year of life and development of wheezing by 36 months among children with a higher risk of allergic sensitization.

METHODS

A multi-center prospective cohort study was conducted among children at high risk for allergic sensitization. A validated questionnaire was used to prospectively collect information on antibiotic use and potential risk factors for wheezing from parents or guardians of 606 children from three European countries at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months of age. Multivariate linear and logistic regression models were used to adjust for potential confounders and effect modifiers and to estimate the association of antibiotic use with the development of early childhood wheezing.

RESULTS

Of the antibiotics assessed, only macrolide use in the first year of life was associated with increasing risk for wheezing by 36 months, after adjusting for gender, socioeconomic status, breast feeding >6 months, tobacco smoke exposure, family history of asthma, and respiratory infection (RR = 1.09; 95% CI 1.05-1.13). To avoid a bias by indication, we analyzed children with and without respiratory infection separately. Similar associations were observed for macrolides use in children who had no respiratory infection.

CONCLUSIONS

In European children with a familial risk for allergic sensitization, we found a positive association between macrolide use in the first year of life and wheezing until 36 months old which was independent of the effect of respiratory infection.