Effect of variation in RANTES promoter on serum RANTES levels and risk of recurrent wheezing after RSV bronchiolitis in children from Han, Southern China

To investigate the association among RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) gene promoter polymorphism, serum RANTES levels, and recurrent wheezing after RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) bronchiolitis in children (1-12 months of age) from Han, Southern china. Three hundred twenty children with RSV bronchiolitis and 272 controls were enrolled in the 3-year follow-up study. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RELP), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit and luciferase analysis were the mainly used methods, which were used to genotype the RANTES (-403G/A), assess the serum RANTES levels and the RANTES promoter activity. As the results showed, the RANTES (-403 G/A) in the promoter region was associated with recurrent wheezing after RSV bronchiolitis (p<0.05) and serum RANTES levels (RANTES genotype G/G: 26.03 +/- 7.46 ng/ml G/A: 28.22 +/- 6.44 ng/ml A/A: 30.12 +/- 5.88 ng/ml). Functional analyses of RANTES promoter activity indicated that the RANTES (-403 G to A) mutation increases the transcriptional activity of the RANTES promoter. In conclusion, the RANTES (-403 G/A) polymorphism increases RANTES transcriptional activity resulted in a high serum RANTES levels, thus increased the risk of recurrent wheezing after RSV bronchiolitis.