title: Copy number variation of CCL3L1 influences asthma risk by modulating IL-10 expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Copy number of Chemokine ligand 3-like 1 (CCL3L1) is associated with various immune disorders. This study was conducted to assess the role of CCL3L1 in asthma by both association analyses of human subjects and in vitro functional analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the copy number of the CCL3L1 gene in 533 Korean subjects (372 controls and 161 asthma patients) by real-time PCR, and investigated the effect of recombinant CCL3L1 protein on THP-1 human monocytic cells that were stimulated with house dust mite extract.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean copy number of CCL3L1 in asthma subjects was significantly lower than that of control subjects (3.18 vs. 3.75, p=0.001). A low copy number of ≤1 was significantly associated with increased asthma risk with an odds ratio of 2.47, and a high copy number of ≥5 was associated with decreased asthma risk with an odds ratio of 0.40. Subjects with ≤1 copy of CCL3L1 had significantly lower mRNA levels of CCL3L1 in peripheral blood cells, and significantly higher serum IgE levels (p<0.05). In the house dust mite extract-simulated THP-1 monocytic cells, CCL3L1 protein dose-dependently up-regulated the expression of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Copy number of CCL3L1 may influence asthma risk by modulating IL-10 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, 156-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Haeyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sungmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Byoung Whui
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Jae Chol
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yoosik
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002460:Cell Line; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000235:genetics*; D056915:DNA Copy Number Variations; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C492767:CCL3L1 protein, human; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D017931:DNA Primers; D016753:Interleukin-10