Association between interleukin-4 receptor α chain (IL4RA) I50V and Q551R polymorphisms and asthma risk: an update meta-analysis

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 26;8(7):e69120. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069120. Print 2013.

Abstract

Background: The associations between the interleukin-4 receptor α chain (IL4RA) I50V and Q551R polymorphisms and asthma risk remained controversial.

Methods: We searched the Pubmed, Embase, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Wanfang databases for studies published before February 2013. The strengths of the associations were calculated using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: A total of 50 studies were included in this meta-analysis. There was a significant association between the IL4RA I50V polymorphism and asthma risk in a dominant genetic model (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.23, P = 0.005). The IL4RA Q551R polymorphism was associated with a significantly elevated asthma risk in a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.22-1.75, P<0.0001). Subgroup analyses found that the IL4RA I50V polymorphism was significantly associated with asthma risk in Asians (OR = 1.72, 95% CI 1.31-2.25, P<0.0001), pediatric asthma risk (OR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.13-1.99, P = 0.005), and atopic asthma risk (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.27-2.79, P = 0.002).

Conclusions: The results of this meta-analysis suggested that the IL4RA I50V and Q551R polymorphisms may be risk factors for developing asthma.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Genetic Association Studies*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Interleukin-4 Receptor alpha Subunit

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants No. 81170025 from National Natural Science Foundation of China and projects of “Major New Drugs Innovation and Development” from the National Ministry of Science and Technology (No. 2011ZX09302-003-001). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.