Fen-Hong Qian

High‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein: A predicative marker in severe asthma

Background and objective:u2003 Serum levels of high‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) are associated with asthma but the relationship between higher levels of hs‐CRP and the degree of asthma severity remains unclear. This study investigated whether hs‐CRP is associated with asthma severity as well as with other clinical indices of asthma activity (pulmonary function, total serum IgE, and peripheral blood eosinophil counts).

Polymorphisms of TLR7 and TLR8 associated with risk of asthma and asthma-related phenotypes in a southeastern Chinese Han population

Abstract Objective To evaluate the effects of polymorphisms in TLR7 and TLR8(as potential candidate genes) on asthma risk and asthma-related phenotypes. Methods We consecutively recruited 318 unrelated adult asthmatic patients and 352 healthy volunteers from the same area of southeast China. Genotyping of each selected SNP was performed using multiplex PCR in conjunction with tagged array single base extension technology. We conducted case-control and case-only association studies between the selected SNPs in TLR7 and TLR8 and asthma or asthma-related phenotypes. Results The T allele of rs5935436 SNP in TLR7 was protective from developing asthma in males (adjusted ORs = 0.126, 95% CIs = 0.016-0.995). The CT/TT genotype of rs5935436 was less frequent in female asthmatics with allergic rhinitis (adjusted ORs = 0.18, 95% CIs = 0.04-0.90). The homozygote AA of rs3761623 and GG of rs3764880 were positively associated with lower FEV1% and asthma severity in female asthmatics. These results were confirmed by haplotype analysis. Conclusion TLR7 and TLR8 polymorphisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of asthma that is gender-dependent. This could be clinically useful, both for identifying patients at risk of asthma and for preventing its occurrence.

Polymorphisms in Toll-like receptor 3 are associated with asthma-related phenotypes in the Chinese Han patients

Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 3 mediates antivirus immunity and is involved in asthma exacerbation and development. However, the genetic association between TLR3 and asthma remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of polymorphisms within TLR3 on asthma risk and asthma‐related phenotypes in the Chinese Han population. A total number of 462 unrelated adult patients with asthma and 398 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. The genotypes of tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TLR3 gene were determined using multiplex SNaPshot SNP genotyping assays. Case–control and case‐only studies were used to assess any links with asthma and asthma‐related phenotypes. The results showed that the genetic variants in TLR3 were associated with asthma‐related phenotypes, including eosinophil counts, serum immunoglobulin E levels and lung function. However, there was no obvious association between the TLR3 SNPs and asthma susceptibility or asthma severity. TLR3 polymorphisms may play a considerable role in the pathogenesis of asthma. It will help in better understanding the pathogenesis of asthma and development of more effective strategies for the prevention, prediction and treatment of asthma.