High risk association of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) VNTR polymorphism with asthma in a North Indian population: A pilot study

• For the first time, the role of IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism in a North Indian population with asthma was evaluated.
• A total of 824 subjects were genotyped.
• Significant risk association was observed between the polymorphism and asthma.

BackgroundA pilot case-control study was conducted to evaluate the role of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) VNTR penta-allelic polymorphism in asthma that has been associated with various inflammatory diseases worldwide. This is the first case-control study conducted in India, investigating the role of IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism in asthma pathogenesis.MethodsA case-control study was performed with a total of 824 adult subjects, inducting 410 asthma patients and 414 healthy controls from North India. The genotypes were identified by polymerase chain reaction.ResultsStatistical analysis for the IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism revealed that the IL-1RN*2 allele was significantly associated with asthma with OR = 1.45, 95% CI (1.15–1.85) and p = 0.001. The IL-1RN*2/2 genotype posed a risk towards asthma with OR = 1.66, 95% CI (0.97–2.86) and p = 0.048. Most of the phenotypic traits were significantly associated with the disease.ConclusionsIL-1RN*2 allele is a high risk factor for asthma in the studied North Indian population.