Genetic polymorphisms of the beta-2 andrenergic receptor in Israelis with severe asthma compared to non-asthmatic Israelis

Joshua Shachor, Chana Ziv, Shabtai Varsano, Tamar Erlich, Elizabeth Goldman, Yigal Dror, Ilana Yakovy, Ruth Navon*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: It has been argued that arginine replacement in tocus16 (Arg16) of β2 adrenergic receptor with glycin (Gly16) increases asthma severity, while glutamin replacement in locus 27 (Gln27) with glutamic acid (Glu27) decreases it. In addftion, ethnic dependency of these polymorphisms has been described, but few studies investigated its relation to asthma severity in a non-anglosaxic population. Objectives: To investigate non-anglosaxic ethnic influences on β2AR polymorphisms and its correlations to asthma severity. Methods: Sixty-six Israeli Jewish and Arab asthmatics who had near-fatal asthma and/or severe nocturnal asthma and/or steroid-dependency were investigated for genetic polymorphisms of β2AR and compared to matched controls. The Jewish patients included both Ashkenazi (of European origin) and non-Ashkenazi (originating from the Middle East or North Africa), The results were compared with those of ethnically matched 113 non-asthmatic Israelis and non-asthmatic Anglo-Saxons described in the literature. Results: We found no significant genetic differences between the asthmatics and their controls or between the various ethnic groups of our population. However, the prevalence of Glu27 was significantly lower in non-asthmatic Israelis compared to non-asthmatic Anglo-Saxons. Conclusions: The genetic distribution of β2AR polymorphisms in severe Israeli asthmatics is not different from that of non-asthmatic Israelis and therefore its clinical impact on asthma is probably minimal.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)821-824
Number of pages4
JournalIsrael Medical Association Journal
Volume5
Issue number11
StatePublished - Nov 2003

Keywords

  • Beta-2 adrenergic receptor polymorphisms
  • Ethnic differences
  • Near fatal asthma
  • Nocturnal asthma
  • Severe asthma

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