Argl6gly polymorphism of the beta2-adrenoceptor gene (ADRBeta2) as a susceptibility factor for nasal polyposis.
BACKGROUND
Nasal polyposis is probably a multifactorial disease, but so far, no genetic susceptibility factor has been identified. The observed associations between the ADRB2 argl6gly polymorphism and asthma-related phenotypes as well as those between nasal polyposis and asthma have prompted us to evaluate the potential involvement of this polymorphism in sinonasal polyposis.


METHODS
We enrolled in our study, 56 patients and 47 sex- and age-matched controls. Genomic DNA from cases and controls was extracted and genotype was assessed by a polymerase chain reaction amplification/Nco I digestion assay. Statistical analysis was performed using JMP software (version 5.1).


RESULTS
The "number of arg alleles" is significantly higher in cases than in controls (p = 0.0386 at t-test; substantially confirmed by nonparametric tests, p = 0.0396 by Wilcoxon/Kruskal-Wallis tests).


CONCLUSIONS
Although results of this study are preliminary because of the small size of the sample, the arg16 allele seems to be associated with an increased risk of sinonasal polyposis suggesting ADRB2 as a susceptibility gene. This finding, if confirmed, would have a clinical value in helping to assess the genetic risk for sinonasal polyposis thus opening new perspectives for the study of molecular factors underlying the development of nasal polyps.
Bussu
Francesco
F
Departments of Otolaryngology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy. francesco.bussu@rm.unicatt.it
Tiziano
Francesco Danilo
FD
Giorgio
Arianna
A
Pinto
Anna Maria
AM
De Corso
Eugenio
E
Angelozzi
Carla
C
Brahe
Christina
C
Paludetti
Gaetano
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D001120:Arginine; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005998:Glycine; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values
D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D001120:Arginine; D005998:Glycine