ABO/Secretor genetic complex and susceptibility to asthma in childhood

Abstract

A positive association has recently been reported in adult subjects between O/nonSecretor phenotype and asthma. To confirm this association, this study investigated the joint ABO/Secretor phenotype in a cohort of 165 asthmatic children. Three-hundred and sixty-two consecutive newborn infants from the same population were also studied as controls.The proportion of O/nonSecretor in asthmatic children was higher than in controls, thus confirming the association found in adults. The association was more marked in males than in females. In males, the pattern of association between the joint ABO/ Secretor phenotype and asthma is dependent on the age at on-set of symptoms.Since the oligosaccharide composition of cell membrane and mucosal secretions is controlled by the cooperative interaction of ABO and Secretor genes, and since such composition influences the adhesion of infectious agents, the age pattern could reflect a more general interaction between developmental maturation and oligosaccharide structure concerning their effects on susceptibility to viral and bacterial agents. Eur Respir J 2001; 17: 1236-1238. The Secretor gene (FUT2) that encodes for a 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase and the ABO blood grouping system that encodes for glycosiltransferases, act in concert to build-up oligosaccharide structures in exocrine secretion systems, including the respiratory tract [1,2,3].Specific oligosaccharide epitopes are necessary for recognition of micro-organisms [4]. The product of ABO and Secretor genes seems to influence the adhesion of infectious agents, thus having a modulatory effect on viral and bacterial respiratory infection [3,5].A combined analysis of ABO blood groups and salivary Secretor phenotypes was recently performed in a cohort of coal miners. Lower lung function and higher prevalence of wheezing and asthma in nonSecretor subjects of blood group O was shown.The present study analysed the joint phenotype ABO/ Secretor in a cohort of asthmatic children in an attempt to confirm the association observed in adult subjects. Subjects and methodsThe sample study is composed of 165 children, 109 males and 56 females, aged 1 month -15 yrs. The patients were observed in the outpatient paediatric pulmonary clinic of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" or were admitted to a ward of the same clinic for acute respiratory episodes. Both subsamples were consecutive.The criterion for inclusion in the study was a history of two or more episodes of wheezing in the last 6 months, irrespective of the aetiology/pathogenesis of the attack. A consecutive series of 362 newborn infants from the same population of Rome was considered as a control sample.ABO and Secretor phenotypes were determined according to standard laboratory procedures [6]. Differences of ABO and Secretor phenotype distribution between asthmatics and controls, and association between ABO and Secretor phenotypes were evaluated by the Chi-squared test of independence. Differences of the joint ABO/Secretor phenotype among age classes at on-set in asthm...

FUT2genotype influences lung function, exacerbation frequency and airway microbiota in non-CF bronchiectasis

“…In asthma for example, the frequency of a non-secretor phenotype is higher among Caucasian asthmatics compared with non-asthmatics,34 however, within patients with asthma, those with a secretor genotype are more prone to exacerbations,26 analogous to the findings of this study. In COPD, patients who are non-secretors have a lower FEV 1 % compared with secretors 28.…”

ABO and RhD Blood Groups in Nasal Polyposis

“…This Italian study showed an association between the O/non-secretor phenotype and childhood asthma. The difference was much more marked in males than in females (5). Another study determined the association between ABO, Lewis (Le), and secretor (Se) genetic complex and susceptibility to childhood asthma in Taiwan (10 (Se/Se) and O/Le(a-b-) were associated with childhood asthma (10).…”

“…There are studies that claim that there is a significant relationship between a specific blood group and susceptibility to asthma or allergic rhinitis (4-6). Studies on adults and children with bronchial asthma have shown that asthma is significantly related to the O/non-secretor phenotype (4,5). Compared with controls, a significantly higher incidence of the O phenotype in male patients with allergic rhinitis was reported (6).…”

FUT 2 polymorphism and outcome in very-low-birth-weight infants

“…This observation is interesting, in particular with respect to previous studies on the link of FUT2 and respiratory illness (2,4,5), but this hypothesis needs to be evaluated in a prospective trial with larger cohorts.…”

“…About 80% of the Caucasian populations are secretors (either homozygous SeSe or heterozygous Sese) while the remaining 20% carry the homozygous 428G→A nonsense mutation in the FUT2 gene and are nonsecretors (sese). Several in vivo studies have revealed the clinical significance of this polymorphism and the secretor status in terms of susceptibility to infection and association with immunologically mediated diseases (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). Thorven et al (1) were able to demonstrate that secretor-negative individuals are resistant to Norovirus infections possibly due to binding of Norovirus to secreted ABH histo-blood group antigens as indispensable condition for infection.…”