Associations of IL-4, IL-4R, and IL-13 Gene Polymorphisms in Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis in China: A Case-Control Study

Abstract

BackgroundThe IL-4, IL-4 receptor (IL4R), and IL-13 genes are crucial immune factors and may influence the course of various diseases. In the present study, we investigated the association between the potential functional polymorphisms in IL-4, IL-4R, and IL-13 and coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) risk in a Chinese population.MethodsSix polymorphisms (C-590T in IL-4, Ile50Val, Ser478Pro, and Gln551Arg in IL-4R, C-1055T and Arg130Gln in IL-13) were genotyped and analyzed in a case-control study of 556 CWP and 541 control subjects.ResultsOur results revealed that the IL-4 CT/CC genotypes were associated with a significantly decreased risk of CWP (odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.58–0.95), compared with the TT genotype, particularly among subgroups of age <65 years (OR = 0.68, 95%CI = 0.46–0.99) and dust exposure years ≥26 years (OR = 0.69, 95%CI = 0.50–0.94). Moreover, the polymorphism was significantly associated with risk of CWP patients with stage I. In addition, a combined effect was observed in a dose-dependent manner with increasing numbers of risk variant alleles (P trend = 0.023), and individuals with 11–12 risk alleles had a 47% higher risk of CWP than those with 0–8 risk alleles (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.05–2.05).ConclusionsOur results suggest that the IL-4 C-590T polymorphism is involved in the etiology of CWP and susceptibility to this disease. Larger studies are warranted to validate our findings.

Clinical statistics analysis on the characteristics of pneumoconiosis of Chinese miner population

“…In addition, a further analysis was performed by the multilayer Chi-square test to confirm the conditional independence with the Breslow-Day value. P values of less than 0.05 (2 tailed) are considered significantly different (19,20). Finally, the risk assessment of patients was predicted by using the RR test, and it is considered statistical significance as the ratio deviated from 1, more deviation and more difference.…”

Role of Genetic Factors in Pulmonary Disease Susceptibility

“…The protective effect of DQB1*0501 for other low-molecular-weight sensitizers (isocyanates and plicatic acid) suggests differential affinities of these chemicals for specific class II molecules. In addition, a significant excess of HLA-DR3 was reported in subjects with specific IgE antibody to trimellitic anhydride (Young et al, 1995) and positive skin prick tests to ammonium hexachloroplatinate (Newman Taylor et al, 1999).…”

“…In addition, the CX3CR1 I249 allele was significantly associated with lower and slower progression of the CT score in CCR5 Delta32 carriers (Nadif et al, 2006b). Recently, the IL-4 -590 CT/CC genotypes were reported to be associated with a significantly decreased risk of CWP in a Chinese population, particularly among subgroups of age <65 years and dust exposure years !26 years (Wang et al, 2011).…”

GITR promoter polymorphism contributes to risk of coal workers’ pneumoconiosis: A case–control study from China

“…The diagnoses of all patients were confirmed by physical examinations and high kilovoltage chest radiograph according to China National Diagnostic Criteria for Pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70-2002). Based on the shape, size, and profusion of opacities on chest X-ray, pneumoconiosis patients were categorized into stage I, stage II, and stage III [8]. The chest radiographs were evaluated by at least two physicians using standard reference films.…”

“…prolonged lung inflammation and fibrotic nodular lesions that usually lead to progressive fibrosis [5]. Although silica dust exposure is recognized as the primary cause of pneumoconiosis, extensive researches indicate that genetic factors have played important roles in the development of pulmonary fibrosis [2,[6][7][8]. During the past four decades in China, CWP continues to occur even though work environment and prevention measures have been greatly improved [9], and still more than 23 million workers exposed to silica particles [10].…”