Investigation of Chitinase3like-1 (Chiti3L1) Gene Polymorphism (rs4950928) with Susceptibility to Allergic Asthma in Iranian Northwestern Azeri Population

In addition to cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of asthma, mounting evidences demonstrate that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in asthma relevant genes have a role in conferring susceptibility to the disease. CHI3L1 is secreted from macrophages, neutrophils, and airway epithelial cells through an IL-13 related mechanism and contributes to tissue remodeling during asthma. Aim of study was to investigate the possible association of rs4950928 SNP in Chiti3L1 gene with predisposition to allergic asthma in Iranian Northwestern Azeri population.

Frequency of genotypes and alleles of rs4950928 SNP in Chiti3L1 gene was determined using TaqMan genotyping method in 190 patients with asthma and 190 healthy controls.

Genotype analyzing showed that CC genotype is more frequent (68.4%) among case group vs 57.9% in control group while GG genotype is more abundant (7.9%) among control group vs 3.2% in case group. Furthermore, according to odds ratio (case/ control = 0.611), C allele could be the risk allele whereas G allele can be considered as the protective allele.

There is a significant relationship between CHI3L1 rs4950928 (-131 C/G) polymorphism and asthma in studied population (P=0.038, <0.05). Patients with asthma were mostly found to have C allele whereas most of the healthy individuals had G allele in their genotype.