Association of beta2-adrenoreceptor polymorphisms with nocturnal cough among atopic subjects but not with atopy and nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
BACKGROUND
The reports from in vitro studies that beta(2)-adre-nergic receptor (B2AR) polymorphisms are associated with agonist-promoted downregulation have evoked considerable research interest for the roles of these polymorphisms to the pathogenesis of asthma.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate the association between asthma phenotypes and B2AR polymorphisms at 2 sites (Arg16 --> Gly16 and Gln27 --> Glu27) in the general population.


METHODS
Four hundred forty unrelated Korean adults were randomly selected, and asthma phenotypes were determined with a questionnaire, immunoassay, skin prick testing, and methacholine bronchial provocation testing. Genotypes of B2AR polymorphisms were determined with PCR-based methods.


RESULTS
No significant association was found between B2AR alleles and haplotypes and total IgE levels, skin test responses to aeroallergens, and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine. Among the atopic subjects, however, numbers of both Arg16 alleles and Arg16-Gln27 haplotypes were negatively associated with nocturnal cough, and in contrast, Gly16-Gln27 was positively associated with it.


CONCLUSIONS
B2AR polymorphisms may play an important role in the expression of nocturnal cough in atopic subjects but not in the expression of atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in a general population.
Kim
Sang-Hoon
SH
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Oh
Sun-Young
SY
Oh
Heung-Bum
HB
Kim
Yoon-Keun
YK
Cho
Sang-Heon
SH
Kim
You-Young
YY
Min
Kyung-Up
KU
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000209:etiology*; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics*
D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2