Allergy Asthma Immunol Res.  2013 Nov;5(6):371-376. 10.4168/aair.2013.5.6.371.

IL-4 Receptor alpha Polymorphisms May Be a Susceptible Factor for Work-Related Respiratory Symptoms in Bakery Workers

• Hur GY
• Ye YM
• Koh DH
• Kim SH
• Park HS

• KMID: 2260280
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2013.5.6.371

Abstract

PURPOSE
The IL-4 and IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Ralpha) genes are the key candidate genes for atopy and asthma susceptibility. Exposure to wheat flour can cause IgE sensitization and respiratory symptoms in bakery workers. Therefore, we hypothesized that IL-4 and IL-4Ralpha single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may be involved in the pathogenic mechanism of baker's asthma.
METHODS
Clinical and genetic data from 373 bakery workers were analyzed. A survey questionnaire, spirometry, and skin prick tests with wheat flour were performed. Serum-specific IgE, IgG1, and IgG4 to wheat flour were determined using ELISA. Five candidate IL-4 (-729 T>G, 589 T>C, and 33 T>C) and IL-4Ralpha (Ile75Val A>G and Gln576Arg A>G) SNPs were genotyped and analyzed.
RESULTS
Workers with the G allele of IL-4Ralpha Ile75Val A>G had a significantly higher prevalence of work-related lower respiratory symptoms than those with the AA genotype (P=0.004, 16.0% vs. 2.9%). In the skin prick test, workers with the AA genotype of IL-4Ralpha Gln576Arg A>G had a significantly higher positive rate to wheat flour (P=0.015, 8.2% vs. 1.1%) than those with AG/GG genotype. No significant associations were found in the three genetic polymorphisms of IL-4. For the predicted probabilities, workers with the AA genotype of Gln576Arg A>G had a higher prevalence of IgG1 and IgG4 in response to wheat flour, according to increased exposure intensity (P=0.001 for IgG1 and P=0.003 for IgG4).
CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the IL-4Ralpha Ile75Val and Gln576Arg polymorphisms may be associated with work-related respiratory symptom development.

Keyword

Genetic polymorphism; IL-4 Receptor alpha; IL-4; baker's asthma; work-related symptom

MeSH Terms

Alleles
Asthma
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Flour
Genotype
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G
Interleukin-4
Polymorphism, Genetic
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Prevalence
Receptors, Interleukin-4
Skin
Spirometry
Triticum
Surveys and Questionnaires
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulin G
Interleukin-4
Receptors, Interleukin-4

Figure

• 

  Figure Predictive probabilities for the Gln576Arg G>A polymorphism in IL-4Rα and the presence of serum-specific IgG1 (A) and IgG4 (B) antibodies in response to wheat flour related to exposure density.

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