Association between vitamin D receptor gene FokI polymorphism and atopic childhood bronchial asthma

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene FokI polymorphism and atopic bronchial asthma in Egyptian children.Material and methodsPolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine VDR gene FokI polymorphism in 180 asthmatic children (atopic, n = 90 and non-atopic, n = 90) and 180 age and gender matched healthy children. Serum levels of total IgE were measured by ELISA. Skin prick test was performed on all patients.ResultsThe frequency of FF genotype was significantly higher in healthy children (n = 90, 50%) versus asthmatic children (n = 39, 21.7%, χ2 = 5.852, OR = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.07–0.78, p = 0.016). The frequency of FF genotype was significantly higher among healthy children (n = 90, 50%) compared to atopic asthmatic children (n = 12, 13.4%, χ2 = 9.745, OR = 0.11, 95% CI = 0.02–0.46, p = 0.002). Also, its frequency was significantly higher among non-atopic asthmatic children (n = 27, 30%) compared to atopic asthmatic children (n = 12, 13.4%, χ2 = 4.394, OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.04–0.94, p = 0.041). Total IgE differed significantly among the three VDR gene FokI polymorphic genotypes in children with atopic asthma (p = 0.007) and the highest median level was detected in ff genotype.ConclusionOur findings raise the susceptibility of VDR gene to be a candidate gene for atopic childhood bronchial asthma.