Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Title abbreviation: Adv Clin Exp Med
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Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

2018, vol. 27, nr 2, February, p. 173–177

doi: 10.17219/acem/67787

Publication type: original article

Language: English

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IL-4RA gene expression in PBMC with regard to place of living and atopy status

Hanna Danielewicz1,A,B,C,D,E,F, Anna Dębińska1,A,B,C,E,F, Anna Drabik-Chamerska1,B,C,E,F, Danuta Kalita1,B,C,E,F, Andrzej Boznański1,A,B,C,E,F

1 1st Department and Clinic of Pediatrics, Allergy and Cardiology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland

Abstract

Background. IL-4 and IL-4RA are key factors in allergic inflammation. IL-4 stimulates both IgE production and Th2 lymphocyte differentiation. Increased levels of IL-4 and IL-4RA have been shown in allergic patients. Genetic analyses have confirmed that polymorphisms within the IL-4RA gene influence the risk of allergy and can change the expression of the protein. Due to gene-environment interactions, this process is also likely to be modified by environmental exposure.
Objectives. The aim of the study was to evaluate the IL-4RA gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from atopic and non-atopic subjects with regard to place of living (urban vs rural).
Material and Methods. We enrolled 38 subjects into the study, 18 of whom were atopic. Atopy was estimated according to the results of a skin prick test. PBMC were isolated from whole blood, total RNA was extracted and reverse transcribed into cDNA. We performed real-time PCR to measure gene expression, the ACTB gene was chosen as a reference and the delta-delta Ct (ΔΔCT) method was applied for relative quantification. The Mann-Whitney U test was used for statistics.
Results. We did not observe any statistically significant differences in the gene expression profile between atopic and non-atopic subjects regardless of their place of living. However, a trend was observed for atopic rural inhabitants to have lower levels of IL-4RA gene expression than atopic subjects living in the town.
Conclusion. The regulation of IL-4RA gene expression is complex and probably influenced by both genetic and environmental factors, such as farming exposures, which could provide the counterbalance to atopy.

Key words

gene expression, asthma, atopy, IL-4RA

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