Abstract
Background: The inflammatory functions of complement component 5 (C5) are mediated by its receptor, C5R1, which is expressed on bronchial, epithelial, vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells. A susceptibility locus for murine allergen-induced airway hyper-responsiveness was identified in a region syntenic to human chromosome 19q13, where linkage to asthma has been demonstrated and where the gene encoding C5R1 is localized. Objective: The aim of this study was to screen for novel polymorphisms in the C5R1 gene and to determine whether any identified polymorphisms are associated with asthma and/or atopy and whether they are functional. Methods: Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) detection in the gene encoding C5R1 was performed by direct sequencing. Genotyping was performed in three populations characterized for asthma and/or atopy: (1) 823 German children from The Multicenter Allergy Study; (2) 146 individuals from Tangier Island, Virginia, a Caucasian isolate; and (3) asthma case-parent trios selected from 134 families (N = 783) in Barbados. Functional studies were performed to evaluate differences between the wild-type and the variant alleles. Results: We identified a novel SNP in the promoter region of C5R1 at position -245 (T/C). Frequency of the -245C allele was similar in the German (31.5%) and Tangier Island (36.3%) populations, but higher in the Afro-Caribbean population (53.0%; P = 0.0039 to <0.0001). We observed no significant associations between the -245 polymorphism and asthma or atopy phenotypes. Upon examination of the functional consequences of the -245T/C polymorphism, we did not observe any change in promoter activity. Conclusion: This new marker may provide a valuable tool to assess the risk for C5a-associated disorders, but it does not appear to be associated with asthma and/or atopy.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 736-744 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Clinical and Experimental Allergy |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 5 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2004 |
Keywords
- Association
- Asthma
- Atopy
- Complement component 5 receptor 1 (C5R1)
- Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Immunology and Allergy
- Immunology