title: Interaction of CD14 haplotypes and soluble CD14 on pulmonary function in agricultural workers.
abstract: Agricultural environments are contaminated with organic dusts containing bacterial components. Chronic inhalation of organic dusts is implicated in respiratory diseases. CD14 is a critical receptor for gram-negative lipopolysaccharide; however, its association with respiratory disease among agricultural workers is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine if serum soluble CD14 (sCD14) levels are associated with lung function among agricultural workers and if this association is modified by genetic variants in CD14.
  
  
  
  This cross-sectional study included 584 veterans with >2 years of farming experience and that were between the ages of 40 and 80 years. Participants underwent spirometry and were genotyped for four tagging CD14 polymorphisms (CD14/-2838, rs2569193; CD14/-1720, rs2915863; CD14/-651, rs5744455; and CD14/-260, rs2569190). Serum sCD14 was assayed by ELISA.
  
  
  
  Subjects were 98% white males with a mean age 64.5 years. High soluble CD14 levels (> median sCD14) were associated decreased lung function (FEV1/FVC, p = 0.011; % predicted FEV1, p = 0.03). When stratified by COPD (yes/no) and smoking status (ever/never), high sCD14 levels (> median sCD14) were associated with low lung function among ever smokers with COPD (% predicted FEV1, padj= 0.0008; FEV1/FVC, padj= 0.0002). A similar trend was observed for never smokers with COPD; however, results did not reach statistical significance due to small sample size. There was a significant sCD14 x COPD/smoking interaction with lung function (% predicted FEV1, pinter= 0.0498; FEV1/FVC, pinter= 0.011). Regression models were adjusted for age, body mass index, education, sex, race and years worked on a farm. No association was found between CD14 polymorphisms/haplotypes (CD14/-2838; CD14/-1720; CD14/-651; CD14/-260) and sCD14 levels. The final model included the variables sCD14 and haplotypes and a haplotype x sCD14 interaction term. Individuals with the GTTG haplotype (CD14/-2838 → CD14/-260) and high sCD14 levels (> median sCD14) had on average 6.94 lower % predicted FEV1than individuals with the GCCA haplotype and low sCD14 levels (≤ median sCD14, padj= 0.03).
  
  
  
  CD14 haplotypes and sCD14 are important mediators of lung function among those with COPD in this occupationally-exposed population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985910, Omaha, NE, 68198-5910, USA. tlevan@unmc.edu.|Department of Internal Medicine and Veterans Nebraska Western Iowa Healthcare System, Omaha, NE, USA. tlevan@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Tricia D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: LeVan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Lynette M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Art J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Heires
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Veterans Nebraska Western Iowa Healthcare System, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Ted R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Mikuls
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Jane L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Meza
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985910, Omaha, NE, 68198-5910, USA.
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Weissenburger-Moser
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Veterans Nebraska Western Iowa Healthcare System, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Debra J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Romberger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000067565:Farmers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D009329:Nebraska / Q000453:epidemiology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: D018950:Lipopolysaccharide Receptors
keywords: Agriculture; CD14; COPD; Lung function; Polymorphism