Association between genes encoding components of the IL-10/IL-0 receptor pathway and asthma in children

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways associated with recurrent symptoms that range from mild to debilitating. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine that displays pleiotropic effects in asthma and allergy. Objective: To determine whether polymorphisms of IL-10/IL-10R pathway contribute to asthma susceptibility in Egyptian children. Methods: The IL-10 (-1082G/A), IL-10R1 (G330R), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) rs2293452 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were genotyped in 110 atopic children with asthma, 110 non-atopic children with asthma, and 110 healthy children. Serum IL-10 and immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: A significant association was observed between the IL-10 polymorphism and asthma in both atopic (P = .03) and non-atopic asthma groups (P = .04). The genotype frequencies of IL-10R1 polymorphisms did not differ between all groups. We identified a significant association between STAT3 polymorphism and asthma susceptibility in atopic asthma (P < .001), whereas no such association was observed in the non-atopic asthma group (P = .9). No evidence of gene interactions was found. Conclusion: Polymorphism of IL-10 and STAT3 may be useful as a new DNA-based diagnostic biomarker for identifying high-risk children susceptible to asthma. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2011;106:474-480.