Influence of glucocorticoid receptor gene NR3C1 646 C>G polymorphism on glucocorticoid resistance in asthmatics: a preliminary study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphism (NR3C1 646 C>G) may play an important role in the development of severe bronchial asthma and resistance to glucocorticoids (GCs).

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of the present study was to determine the relation between the 646 C>G polymorphism of the glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) and resistance to GCs with development of severe bronchial asthma.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:

This case-control study included 40 patients with severe bronchial asthma and 20 apparently healthy controls. Atopic status was determined by skin prick test reaction to the most common locally-encountered allergens. GCs reversibility test was performed to differentiate between GCs sensitive and GCs resistant asthma. For all subjects, analysis of the glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphism (NR3C1 646 C>G) was done using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

RESULTS:

The frequencies of NR3C1 646 C>G genotypes and alleles differed significantly between asthmatic patients and controls. The frequencies of the CC genotype and C allele carriers were significantly higher among asthmatics than among controls, and also among GCs sensitive asthmatics than among GCs resistant asthmatics. However, NR3C1 646 C>G genotypes and alleles frequencies did not differ significantly according to the atopic status in asthmatics.

CONCLUSIONS:

The too small sized of the investigated groups is a shortcoming of this study. Nevertheless, the observed variations demonstrate a marked association of NR3C1 646 C>G CC genotype with the development of bronchial asthma and a higher frequency of the C allele among GCs sensitive asthmatics. Large-scale studies are required to investigate the association between polymorphisms of the NR3C1 gene and GCs resistance among asthmatic patients.

• Authors: Nesrine A Mohamed, Asmaa S M Abdel-Rehim, Mohamed Nazmy Farres, Hedya Said Muhammed
• Journal: Central-European journal of immunology (Cent Eur J Immunol) Vol. 40 Issue 3 Pg. 325-30 ( 2015) ISSN: 1426-3912 [Print] Poland
• PMID: 26648776 (Publication Type: Journal Article)