Genetic factors explain half of all variance in serum eosinophil cationic protein. Issue 12 (December 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Elmose, C.; Sverrild, A.; van der Sluis, S.; Kyvik, K. O.; Backer, V.; Thomsen, S. F.
• Is Part Of: Clinical & experimental allergy. Volume 44:Issue 12(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1525
• Page End: 1530
• Publication Date: 2014-12
• Subjects: Allergy -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; 616.97
• DOI: 10.1111/cea.12445
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-7894

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cea12445-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <sec id="cea12445-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Background</title> <p>Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) is one of four basic proteins of the secretory granules of eosinophils. It has a variety of functions associated with inflammatory responses. Little is known about the causes for variation in serum ECP levels.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12445-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To identify factors associated with variation in serum ECP and to determine the relative proportion of the variation in ECP due to genetic and non‐genetic factors, in an adult twin sample.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12445-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A sample of 575 twins, selected through a proband with self‐reported asthma, had serum ECP, lung function, airway responsiveness to methacholine, exhaled nitric oxide, and skin test reactivity, measured. Linear regression analysis and variance component models were used to study factors associated with variation in ECP and the relative genetic influence on ECP levels.</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12445-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Sex (regression coefficient = −0.107, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (0.007, <italic>P</italic> = 0.028), and airway responsiveness to methacholine (0.074, <italic>P</italic> = 0.001) were significantly associated with ECP. Adjusted for these factors, ECP correlated 0.53 (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and 0.27 (<italic>P</italic> = 0.001) in monozygotic and dizygotic twins, respectively (<italic>P</italic>‐value for difference = 0.05). According to the most parsimonious variance component model, genetic factors accounted for 57% (CI: 42–72%, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) of the variance in ECP levels, whereas the remainder (43%) was ascribable to non‐shared environmental factors. The genetic correlation between ECP and airway responsiveness to methacholine was statistically non‐significant (<italic>r</italic> = −0.11, <italic>P</italic> = 0.50).</p> </sec> <sec id="cea12445-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>Around half of all variance in serum ECP is explained by genetic factors. Serum ECP is influenced by sex, BMI, and airway responsiveness. Serum ECP and airway responsiveness seem not to share genetic variance.</p> </sec> </abstract>