RANTES Gene Polymorphisms and Asthma Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Zhang, Yong-Gang; Huang, Jin; Zhang, Jie; Li, Xiao-Bo; He, Chao; Xiao, Yu-Ling; Tian, Can; Wan, Hua; Zhao, Yu-Liang; Tsewang, Yangzom-Ghising; Fan, Hong

doi:10.1016/j.arcmed.2010.01.002

« Previous Next »Archives of Medical Research
Volume 41, Issue 1 , Pages 50-58, January 2010

RANTES Gene Polymorphisms and Asthma Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Yong-Gang Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Jin Huang
- Chinese Evidence-Based Medicine/Cochrane Center, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Jie Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Genetics, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
Xiao-Bo Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Chao He
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Yu-Ling Xiao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Can Tian
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Hua Wan
- Department of Health Statistics, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Yu-Liang Zhao
- West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Yangzom-Ghising Tsewang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Hong Fan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, West China Medical School of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Address reprint requests to: Hong Fan, MD, Department of Respiratory Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, GuoXue Xiang 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041 China; Phone: 86-28-85423520; FAX: 86-28-85423520

Received 27 September 2009; accepted 14 December 2009.

(ARCMED-D-09-00452)

Background and Aims

RANTES is a chemokine that assists the recruitment of inflammatory cells including eosinophils. Previous studies revealed that polymorphisms of RANTES were implicated in susceptibility to asthma, but a large number of studies reported apparently conflicting results. We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the association of these polymorphisms and asthma risk.

Methods

Literature-based meta-analysis was supplemented by tabular data from investigation of all relevant studies regarding all polymorphisms of RANTES available before November 30, 2009, with investigation on potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

Ten case/control studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving a total of 1706 cases and 1685 controls. In a combined analysis, no significant associations with asthma risk were found on these two polymorphisms (−403G/A and −28C/G) without any publication bias. For the −403G/A polymorphism, in subgroup analysis by ethnicity, no significant associations were found in Asians, Europeans or African-Americans; in subgroup analysis by age, no significant associations were found in adults or children. In subgroup analysis by atopic status, the −403G/A polymorphism was significantly associated with asthma risk in atopic asthma (dominant model [OR = 1.38, 95% CI = 1.09–1.76, p = 0.009; P_het = 0.10]; A vs. G model [OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.04–1.51, p = 0.02; P_het = 0.11] and AG vs. GG model [OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.06–1.77, p = 0.02; P_het = 0.14]).

Conclusions

This meta-analysis suggested that RANTES gene −403G/A polymorphism would be a risk factor among atopic asthma patients. To further evaluate gene-to-gene and gene-to-environment interactions on RANTES polymorphisms and asthma risk, more studies with thousands of patients are required.

Key Words: Asthma, Meta-analysis, RANTES, Polymorphism