High risk association of IL-4 VNTR polymorphism with asthma in a North Indian population

Background: A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the role of IL-4 VNTR polymorphism in asthma that has been associated with various inflammatory diseases worldwide. This is the first case-control study conducted in India, investigating the role of IL-4 VNTR polymorphism in asthma pathogenesis. Methods: A case-control study was performed with a total of 824 adult subjects, inducting 410 asthma patients and 414 healthy controls from North India. The genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction. Results: Statistical analysis for the IL-4 VNTR polymorphism revealed that the Rpl allele was significantly associated with asthma with OR= 1.47, 95% CI (1.11-1.94) and p = 0.005. The Rpl/Rpl homozygous mutant genotype posed a high risk towards asthma with OR = 2.39, 95% CI (0.96-6.14) and p = 0.040. The Rp2/Rpl heterozygous genotype also posed a risk towards asthma with OR = 1.39, 95% Cl (1.001.94) and p = 0.040. Most of the phenotypic traits were significantly associated with the disease. Conclusions: IL-4 VNTR polymorphism is a high risk factor for asthma in the studied North Indian population. (c) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.