Beta 2-AR polymorphism (homozygous arginine 16) associated with higher IgE in children with asthma

Beta 2-adrenergic receptor (AR) polymorphisms occurring at amino acid positions 16 (arginine/glycine) and 27 (glutamine/glutamic acid) are known to be functionally relevant.


The mechanism of adrenergic receptors. β receptors couple to Gs, and increases intracellular cAMP activity, resulting in e.g. heart muscle contraction, smooth muscle relaxation and glycogenolysis. Image source: Wikipedia, GNU Free Documentation License.

In this Argentinean study, beta 2-Adrenergic receptor polymorphisms and total serum IgE levels were analyzed in 124 white asthmatic children using polymerase chain reaction during a 3-year period.

Serum levels of IgE were 4.3-fold higher than age-adjusted normal values in the study population.

No association was found in regard to asthma severity.

A significant difference of IgE serum levels was observed among polymorphisms at position 16, with the highest IgE level in the arginine/arginine group (P = 0.04).

The authors concluded that beta 2-adrenergic receptor polymorphisms, especially homozygous arginine 16, were associated with higher serum IgE levels in children with asthma.

References:
Beta 2-Adrenergic polymorphisms and total serum IgE levels in children with asthma from Argentina. Verónica Giubergia MD; Marta Zelazko MD; Adriana Roy MSc; Luis P. Gravina MSc; Hebe Gonzalez Pena MD; Lilien Chertkoff PhD. Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, 2009, vol. 102, no. 4, pp. 308 - 313.