PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Simone Accordini
AU  - Lucia Calciano
AU  - Cristina Bombieri
AU  - Giovanni Malerba
AU  - Francesca Belpinati
AU  - Marcello Ferrari
AU  - Anna Rita Lo Presti
AU  - Mario Olivieri
AU  - Elisabetta Zanolin
AU  - Roberto De Marco
TI  - Inflammation-related genes, peripheral blood eosinophil (EOS) and neutrophil (NEU) count, and lung function in adult asthma
AID  - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2015.PA1234
DP  - 2015 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - PA1234
VI  - 46
IP  - suppl 59
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1234.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/46/suppl_59/PA1234.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2015 Sep 01; 46
AB  - Background: Airway inflammation is a key component of asthma that depends on the interplay of multiple genes. Eosinophils and neutrophils have the ability to recognize distinct inflammatory phenotypes influencing the clinical characteristics of the disease.Aim: To simultaneously assess the association among tag-SNPs located in 15 inflammation-related genes, EOS, NEU and lung function in adult asthma.Methods: In Verona (Italy), 337 asthmatics (aged 20-64) were identified from the general population in the GEIRD study (2008/2010) and were classified into four inflammation groups: EOSlow (<3rd quartile = 260 EOS/mm3)/NEUlow (<3rd quartile = 5,050 NEU/mm3), EOSlow/NEUhigh, EOShigh/NEUlow, EOShigh/NEUhigh. SNPs were selected by testing their univariate association with the inflammation groups and pre-bronchodilator FEV1%pred under the additive genetic model (controlling the false discovery rate). The simultaneous relationships were evaluated by using a mediation model, with current smoking and the use of anti-asthmatic controller medications in the past three months as potential confounders.Results: A SNP in the IL-18 gene region was selected for the mediation analysis. The mediation model is described in this figure: Conclusions: This preliminary analysis suggests that a SNP in the IL-18 gene region is associated with the EOShigh/NEUhigh pattern, without a direct association with lung function.