Association of susceptibility to the development of pneumonia in the older Japanese population with haem oxygenase-1 gene promoter polymorphism. Issue 4 (31st March 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yasuda, H; Okinaga, S; Yamaya, M; Ohrui, T; Higuchi, M; Shinkawa, M; Itabashi, S; Nakayama, K; Asada, M; Kikuchi, A; Shibahara, S; Sasaki, H
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical genetics. Volume 43:Issue 4(2006)
• Page Start: e17
• Page End: e17
• Publication Date: 2006-03-31
• Subjects: COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease -- CPE, chronic pulmonary emphysema -- HO, haem oxygenase -- HO-1, inducible haem oxygenase -- ROS, reactive oxygen species -- TNF, tumour necrosis factor; pneumonia -- haem oxygenase -- gene polymorphism -- cerebrovascular disease; Medical genetics -- Periodicals; 616.042
• DOI: 10.1136/jmg.2005.035824
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1468-6244

Abstract

Abstract : Background: Oxidative stresses including cigarette smoking are implicated in the pathogenesis of cerebrovascular diseases, which are associated with pneumonia because of frequent aspiration. Haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) acts in cytoprotection against oxidants, provides anti-inflammatory effects, and inhibits atherogenesis. A (GT)n dinucleotide repeat in the human HO-1 promoter modulates HO-1 gene expression and shows length polymorphism, which is grouped into three classes: class S (<27 repeats), class M (⩾27, <33 repeats), and class L (⩾33 repeats) alleles. Objective: To investigate the correlation between the HO-1 gene polymorphism and development of pneumonia in elderly Japanese. Methods: The length of the (GT)n repeats was analysed in 200 elderly patients with pneumonia and 200 control subjects. The association of the HO-1 gene polymorphism with risk of pneumonia was estimated by logistic regression. Results: The proportion of allele frequencies in class L, and the proportion of genotypic frequencies in the L-allele carriers (L/L, L/M, and L/S), was significantly higher in patients with pneumonia than in controls (20% v 10% in class L, and 34% v 18% in L-allele carriers). After adjustment for potentially confounding factors, both cerebrovascular disorders and HO-1 gene L-allele carriers were significant and independent risk factors for pneumonia. The adjusted odds ratio for L-allele carriers v non-L-allele carrier was 2.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 3.6). Conclusions: The large size of a (GT)n repeat in the HO-1 gene promoter may be associated with susceptibility to pneumonia in the older Japanese population.