Genetic polymorphisms of ADRB2 and IL10 may be associated with the risk of IgE sensitization to digestive powders in exposed medical personnel.
BACKGROUND
It has been reported that pancreatic extracts may induce IgE-mediated respiratory allergy in medical personnel. The aim of the study was to identify genetic factors associated with IgE sensitization to digestive powders containing pancreatic extract.


METHODS
This case-control study was performed on 153 subjects routinely exposed to digestive powder and on 123 nonexposed controls working in Ajou University Hospital. Skin prick testing was performed using 4 commonly used digestive powders and α-amylase. Serum specific IgE levels were measured by ELISA. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms, ADRB2 46A>G, IL10 -1082A>G and IL4 -589T>C, were genotyped using the single base extension method.


RESULTS
The positive rate of serum specific IgE to digestive powder was significantly higher in the 41 (26.8%) exposed personnel with work-related respiratory symptoms than in controls (24.4 vs. 5.4%, p = 0.012). Thirty-nine (25.5%) of the 153 exposed personnel were found to have an allergy to digestive powder, as determined by a positive skin prick test and/or a high serum specific IgE level to digestive powder. The ADRB2 46A>G and IL10 -1082A>G polymorphisms were found to be significantly associated with the development of an allergy to digestive powder in exposed medical personnel by multiple logistic regression analysis after controlling for age, atopy and job type (pharmacist or nurse; p = 0.035 and p = 0.027, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms ADRB2 46A>G and IL10 -1082A>G are genetic factors that increase IgE sensitization to pancreatic extracts in medical personnel occupationally exposed to digestive powders.
Ye
Young-Min
YM
Department of Allergy and Rheumatology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Yongtong-gu, Suwon, Korea.
Lee
Hyun-Young
HY
Kim
Sang-Hoon
SH
Kim
Sang-Ha
SH
Kim
Seung-Hyun
SH
Park
Hae-Sim
HS
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D010184:Pancreatic Extracts / Q000276:immunology*; D020799:Pancrelipase / Q000276:immunology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011208:Powders; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D012882:Skin Tests
D010184:Pancreatic Extracts; D011208:Powders; D018343:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2; D016753:Interleukin-10; C061936:festal; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D020799:Pancrelipase