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Laubhahn K, Böck A, Zeber K, Unterschemmann S, Kunze S, Schedel M, Schaub B. 17q12-21 risk-variants influence cord blood immune regulation and multitrigger-wheeze. Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2022; 33:e13721. [PMID: 34919286 DOI: 10.1111/pai.13721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood wheeze represents a first symptom of asthma. Early identification of children at risk for wheeze related to 17q12-21 variants and their underlying immunological mechanisms remain unknown. We aimed to assess the influence of 17q12-21 variants and mRNA expression at birth on the development of wheeze. METHODS Children were classified as multitrigger/viral/no wheeze until six years of age. The PAULINA/PAULCHEN birth cohorts were genotyped (n = 216; GSA-chip). mRNA expression of 17q21 and innate/adaptive genes was measured (qRT-PCR) in cord blood mononuclear cells. Expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) and mediation analyses were performed. Genetic variation of 17q12-21 asthma-single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was summarized as the first principal component (PC1) and used to classify single SNP effects on gene expression as (locus)-dependent/independent eQTL SNPs. RESULTS Core region risk variants (IKZF3, ZPBP2, GSDMB, ORMDL3) were associated with multitrigger wheeze (OR: 3.05-5.43) and were locus-dependent eQTL SNPs with higher GSDMA, TLR2, TLR5, and lower TGFB1 expression. Increased risk of multitrigger wheeze with rs9303277 was in part mediated by TLR2 expression. Risk variants distal to the core region were mainly locus-independent eQTL SNPs with decreased CD209, CD86, TRAF6, RORA, and IL-9 expression. Distinct immune signatures in cord blood were associated either with multitrigger wheeze (increased innate genes, e.g., TLR2, IPS1, LY75) or viral wheeze (decreased NF-κB genes, e.g., TNFAIP3 and TNIP2). CONCLUSION Locus-dependent eQTL SNPs (core region) associated with increased inflammatory genes (primarily TLR2) at birth and subsequent multitrigger wheeze indicate that early priming and imbalance may be crucial for asthma pathophysiology. Locus-independent eQTL SNPs (mainly distal region, rs1007654) may be involved in the initiation of dendritic cell activation/maturation (TRAF6) and interaction with T cells (CD209, CD86). Identifying potential mechanistic pathways at birth may point to critical key points during early immune development predisposing to asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Laubhahn
- Pediatric Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research - DZL, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Böck
- Pediatric Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Member of the CHildhood Allergy and tolerance consortium (CHAMP), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Zeber
- Pediatric Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Member of the CHildhood Allergy and tolerance consortium (CHAMP), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandra Unterschemmann
- Pediatric Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sonja Kunze
- Research Unit of Molecular Epidemiology, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Epidemiology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Michaela Schedel
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medical Center Essen-Ruhrlandklinik, Essen, Germany.,Department of Pulmonary Medicine, University Medicine Essen-University Hospital, Essen, Germany
| | - Bianca Schaub
- Pediatric Allergology, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Member of the German Center for Lung Research - DZL, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany.,Member of the CHildhood Allergy and tolerance consortium (CHAMP), LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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