title: IL-13 Gene Polymorphisms are Associated With Rhinosinusitis and Eosinophilic Inflammation in Aspirin Intolerant Asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aspirin-intolerant asthma (AIA) is characterized by moderate to severe asthma that is aggravated by aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Affected patients frequently have chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis due to persistent upper and lower airway inflammation with marked eosinophilia. IL-13 plays a crucial role in the development of allergic asthma by inducing airway eosinophilia and hyper-reactivity and it has been correlated with an increased eosinophil count.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two promoter polymorphisms of the IL-13 gene (-1510 A>C and -1055C>T) and one coding nonsynonymus Arg110Gln (110G>A) polymorphism were genotyped using primer extension methods in 162 patients with AIA, 301 patients with aspirin-tolerant asthma (ATA), and 430 normal healthy controls (NC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in the genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies of the three polymorphisms among the three groups. AIA patients with the AA genotype -1510A>C (P=0.012) and CC genotype -1055C>T (P<0.001) had a significantly higher frequency of rhinosinusitis, as compared to those with the minor alleles of these two single nucleotide polymorphisms. AIA patients with the GG genotype had a higher peripheral eosinophil count (P=0.025) and a higher serum eotaxin-1 level (P=0.044), as compared to patients with the AA genotype IL-13 Arg110Gln (110G>A).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the IL-13 polymorphisms at -1510A>C and 1055C>T are associated with the development of rhinosinusitis in AIA patients. IL-13 Arg110Gln may be associated with an increased eosinophil count and eotaxin-1 level and could increase eosinophilic inflammation in the upper and lower airways of patients with AIA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea.
authors.forename: Nami Shrestha
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Palikhe
authors.forename: Seung-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Bo-Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Gil-Soon
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joo-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Hae-Sim
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park