[Polymorphism of regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted promoter region -28 position in Chinese allergic asthmatic children].

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES)-28 polymorphism on allergic asthma in Chinese children.

METHODS

Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used to identify the polymorphism at position -28 of the RANTES promoter in 100 asthmatic children (group A). Levels of plasma IgE and RANTES were detected by chemiluminescence and ELISA respectively. The number of peripheral eosinophils was counted. Data were compared with those of the control group of 90 healthy children (group B).

RESULTS

(1) Both C allele and G allele were detected at -28 of the RANTES promoter; the prevalence of the G allele in group A was 19.5%, as compared to 10.6% in group B; the prevalence of RANTES-28G allele was significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). (2) For genotypes C/C, C/G and G/G in asthmatics, levels of plasma RANTES were (289 +/- 199) ng/L, (515 +/- 119) ng/L and (1 071 +/- 138) ng/L, respectively, the difference being significant among the three genotypes (P < 0.01). (3) For genotypes C/C, C/G and G/G in asthmatics, total levels of plasma IgE (lg IgE) were 2.45 +/- 0.12, 2.77 +/- 0.07 and 3.16 +/- 0.09, respectively, the difference being not significant among the three genotypes (P > 0.05). (4) The numbers of peripheral eosinophils were (2.9 +/- 1.4) x 10(8)/L, (6.4 +/- 0.8) x 10(8)/L and (9.9 +/- 2.3) x 10(8)/L in genotypes C/C, C/G and G/G in asthmatics respectively, and the difference being significant among the three genotypes (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Polymorphism of RANTES C-28G was associated with susceptibility of asthma in children, and may aggravate the disease through increasing the level of RANTES and eosinophils.