Leptin gene polymorphism affects leptin level in childhood asthma

Abstract

BackgroundLeptin may induce inflammation in asthma by activation of Th2 cells. It has also been demonstrated that leptin expression increases upon inflammation and that asthmatic patients show increased serum leptin levels. We hypothesized that the polymorphism in leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes is associated with childhood asthma and may affect their serum level. To our knowledge, there are no reports analyzing LEP and LEPR polymorphisms in association with their serum levels in childhood asthma.MethodsWe analyzed 35 subjects: 25 asthmatic pediatric patients and 10 healthy children aged from 6 to 18. The diagnosis of allergic asthma was based on clinical manifestation, lung function, positive skin prick tests and increased immunoglobulin E levels. The polymorphisms were genotyped with use of polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Serum levels of leptin and leptin receptor were determined using BioVendor enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Statistical analysis was done with Statistica v.12.ResultsWe observed that leptin levels were increased in asthmatic subjects as compared to healthy controls and were significantly higher during exacerbation than in the asymptomatic period (P = 0.025). We observed that LEP polymorphism (rs13228377) was associated with higher serum leptin levels in asthma and these two variables had high predictive value for asthma risk (P = 0.007, odds ratio 17.5, predictive accuracy 83.9%). LEPR polymorphisms did not show association with its serum level and asthma risk.ConclusionLEP polymorphism may increase asthma risk via influence on its serum level.

Adipokines in adolescence; the associations with lung function and atopy – A cross-sectional study

“…Unfortunately, we had no data regarding allergic rhinitis, but we found no associations between adipokines and atopic sensitisation, in line with another study [13]. Higher levels of leptin in asthmatic vs non asthmatic children have been found in some studies [12,17,[28][29][30], but not in all [13]. Higher levels of leptin and lower levels of adiponectin have been found in children with allergic rhinitis compared to children without allergic rhinitis [31].…”

Obesity Can Contribute to Severe Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in Children through Leptin and Interleukin-1β

“…Previous studies suggested that IL-1β gene polymorphisms may constitute a risk factor for childhood atopic asthma or severity via influence on gene regulation leading to a altered protein serum level in atopic asthma or atopic dermatitis [24][25][26][27]. And although the serum leptin level is elevated by obesity, leptin and leptin receptor gene polymorphism is associated with higher serum leptin levels in asthma, and these 2 variables have a high predictive value for asthma risk [28,29]. To date, there were no data about the genetic polymorphisms of inflammasomes including IL-1β or leptin in AR.…”

Nutrition, Obesity and Asthma Inception in Children. The Role of Lung Function

“…It may also have a role in altering the lung function [58,62]. Finally, it has recently been described that the polymorphism rs13228377 of the leptin gene is associated with higher levels of leptin in serum in asthma and those two variables (polymorphism + elevation in leptin) have a high predictive value for asthma risk (OR = 17.5, predictive accuracy 83.9%), although the authors themselves recognise the limitation of the scant sample [64]. In addition, it has been described that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the leptin and adiponectin genes have a protective effect for asthma, but that that effect is lost in obese individuals [65].…”