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BMC Pulmonary Medicine
Published in: BMC Pulmonary Medicine 1/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | Childhood Asthma | Research Article

Household mold exposure interacts with inflammation-related genetic variants on childhood asthma: a case–control study

Authors: Yu Zhang, Li Hua, Quan-Hua Liu, Shu-Yuan Chu, Yue-Xin Gan, Min Wu, Yi-Xiao Bao, Qian Chen, Jun Zhang

Published in: BMC Pulmonary Medicine | Issue 1/2021

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Abstract

Background

A number of studies have examined the association between mold exposure and childhood asthma. However, the conclusions were inconsistent, which might be partly attributable to the lack of consideration of gene function, especially the key genes affecting the pathogenesis of childhood asthma. Research on the interactions between genes and mold exposure on childhood asthma is still very limited. We therefore examined whether there is an interaction between inflammation-related genes and mold exposure on childhood asthma.

Methods

A case–control study with 645 asthmatic children and 910 non-asthmatic children aged 3–12 years old was conducted. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in inflammation-related genes were genotyped using MassARRAY assay. Mold exposure was defined as self-reported visible mold on the walls. Associations between visible mold exposure, SNPs and childhood asthma were evaluated using logistic regression models. In addition, crossover analyses were used to estimate the gene-environment interactions on childhood asthma on an additive scale.

Results

After excluding children without information on visible mold exposure or SNPs, 608 asthmatic and 839 non-asthmatic children were included in the analyses. Visible mold exposure was reported in 151 asthmatic (24.8%) and 119 non-asthmatic children (14.2%) (aOR 2.19, 95% CI 1.62–2.97). The rs7216389 SNP in gasdermin B gene (GSDMB) increased the risk of childhood asthma with each C to T substitution in a dose-dependent pattern (additive model, aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.11–1.57). Children carrying the rs7216389 T allele and exposed to visible mold dramatically increased the risk of childhood asthma (aOR 3.21; 95% CI 1.77–5.99). The attributable proportion due to the interaction (AP: 0.47, 95% CI 0.03–0.90) and the relative excess risk due to the interaction (RERI: 1.49, 95% CI 0–2.99) were statistically significant.

Conclusions

In the present study, there was a significant additive interaction between visible mold exposure and rs7216389 SNP on childhood asthma. Future studies need to consider the gene-environment interactions when exploring the risk factors of childhood asthma.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Household mold exposure interacts with inflammation-related genetic variants on childhood asthma: a case–control study
Authors
Yu Zhang
Li Hua
Quan-Hua Liu
Shu-Yuan Chu
Yue-Xin Gan
Min Wu
Yi-Xiao Bao
Qian Chen
Jun Zhang
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Pulmonary Medicine / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2466
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12890-021-01484-9

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