El-Shafei M S, Farres M N, Shahin R Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Allergol Immunopathol (Madr). 2012 Sep-Oct;40(5):275-80. doi: 10.1016/j.aller.2011.05.010. Epub 2011 Sep 1.
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) is expressed at high levels in the lungs and plays a role in the metabolism of the endogenous peptides involved in asthma pathogenesis. ACE gene polymorphisms have been reported to be linked to asthma. However, the results are conflicting, with no reported studies on Egyptian asthmatics. We aimed to assess ACE gene polymorphism among Egyptian asthmatics, and to determine its possible association with asthma severity.
This case-control study was conducted on 30 adult asthmatic patients, and 30 healthy controls with no history of asthma or atopy. Atopic status among asthmatics was determined by skin prick test (SPT). Lung functions were assessed by spirometry. Determination of ACE genotypes was performed for all subjects. Total serum IgE levels were measured by ELISA.
The frequencies of the DD, ID and II genotypes were 46.7%, 40%, and 13.3%, respectively among the cases, and 33.3%, 40%, and 26.7%, respectively among the controls. No significant differences in ACE genotype distribution were observed between cases and controls (p=0.37). Genotype distribution did not differ according to age of onset or severity of asthma, total serum IgE levels, SPT positivity, or number of positive SPT reactions. Furthermore, ACE polymorphism was not statistically different between asthmatic patients without any associated atopic disease and those with an associated atopic disease.
The results of our study indicate that ACE gene polymorphism is not significantly associated with bronchial asthma or with its severity among Egyptian adults.
血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）在肺部高水平表达，并在内源性肽的代谢中发挥作用，这些内源性肽参与哮喘的发病机制。据报道，ACE基因多态性与哮喘有关。然而，结果相互矛盾，且尚无关于埃及哮喘患者的研究报道。我们旨在评估埃及哮喘患者中ACE基因多态性，并确定其与哮喘严重程度的可能关联。
本病例对照研究对30例成年哮喘患者和30名无哮喘或特应性病史的健康对照者进行。通过皮肤点刺试验（SPT）确定哮喘患者的特应性状态。通过肺量计评估肺功能。对所有受试者进行ACE基因型测定。采用酶联免疫吸附测定法（ELISA）测量血清总IgE水平。
病例组中DD、ID和II基因型的频率分别为46.7%、40%和13.3%，对照组中分别为33.3%、40%和26.7%。病例组和对照组之间ACE基因型分布无显著差异（p = 0.37）。基因型分布在发病年龄、哮喘严重程度、血清总IgE水平、SPT阳性率或SPT阳性反应数量方面无差异。此外，无任何相关特应性疾病的哮喘患者与有相关特应性疾病的哮喘患者之间的ACE多态性无统计学差异。
我们的研究结果表明，在埃及成年人中，ACE基因多态性与支气管哮喘及其严重程度无显著关联。
