Priya Tripathi

Association of ADAM33 gene polymorphisms with asthma in Indian children

Asthma is the most common chronic disorder in childhood, and asthma exacerbation is an important cause of childhood morbidity and hospitalization. In the present study, the relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the ADAM33 gene and asthma in Indian children has been examined using a case–control study. Five SNPs of the ADAM33 gene, F+1(rs511898) G/A, S2 (rs528557) G/C, ST+4 (rs44707) A/C, ST+5 (rs597980) C/T and V4 (rs2787094) C/G, were analyzed in 211 asthma cases and 137 controls aged 1–15 years using the PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Data were statistically analyzed using the χ2-test and logistic regression model. Haplotype estimation and linkage disequilibrium were conducted using the expectation–maximization algorithm. The genotypes and allele frequencies of SNPs S2 and ST+5 of the ADAM33 gene were significantly associated with asthma risk (P=0.020–<0.001), whereas F+1, ST+4, V4 homozygous mutant genotypes and mutant alleles were significantly associated with increased asthma risk (P=0.031–<0.001). A positive association was also found with haplotypes AGCCT, GGACT and AGCCC (P=<0.001, odds ratio (OR)=6.10–6.50), whereas ACAGT, AGCGC, AGCGT, GCAGC and GCCGT showed protective association with asthma (P=0.019–0.000, OR=0.50–0.20). Taken together, out results suggest that ADAM33 gene polymorphisms may modify individual susceptibility to develop childhood asthma in the Indian population.

Association of ADAM33 gene polymorphisms with adult-onset asthma and its severity in an Indian adult population

ADAM33, a member of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) gene family, is an asthma susceptibility gene originally identified by positional cloning. In the present study, we investigated the possible association of five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ADAM33 (rs511898, rs528557, rs44707, rs597980 and rs2787094) with adult-onset asthma in an Indian population. The study included 175 patients with mild intermittent (n = 44), mild persistent (n = 108) or moderate persistent (n = 23) subgroups of asthma, and 253 nonasthmatic control individuals. SNPs were genotyped with the help of restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) method, and data were analysed using chi-square test and logistic regression model. Bonferroni’s correction for multiple comparisons was applied for each hypothesis. Genotypes and allele frequencies of SNPs rs511898 and rs528557 were significantly associated with adult-onset asthma (P = 0.010-<0.001). A significant association of the homozygous mutant genotype and mutant alleles of SNPs rs2787094, rs44707 and rs597980 with the asthma was also observed (P = 0.020-<0.001). A positive association between asthma and haplotypes AGCCT, GGCCT, AGACT, GCAGT, GGACT, ACCCC and AGACC were also found (P = 0.036-<0.001, OR = 2.07–8.49). Haplotypes AGCGT, GCAGC, ACAGC, ACAGT, GGAGC and GGCGT appear to protect against asthma (P = 0.013-<0.0001, OR = 0.34–0.10). Our data suggest that ADAM33 gene polymorphisms serve as genetic risk factors for asthma in Indian adult population.

Haplotypic association of ADAM33 (T+1, S+1 and V − 3) gene variants in genetic susceptibility to asthma in Indian population

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out if the ADAM33 gene polymorphisms T+1(A>G), S+1(T>A) and V − 3(C>T) and their haplotypes play any role in genetic susceptibility to asthma. Subjects and methods: Three hundred and ninety healthy controls and 386 asthmatic patients from Lucknow, India, were recruited for the study. Subjects were aged between 1–50 years. Among total recruited asthma cases, 95 (24.6%) had mild intermittent asthma, 235 (60.9%) had mild persistent asthma and 56 (14.5%) had moderate persistent asthma. Genotyping was carried out using the Polymerase Chain Reaction and Restriction Fragment Length polymorphism (PCRRFLP) method. Results: No significant differences in the genotype or allele frequencies of ADAM33 gene polymorphisms between asthmatic patients and healthy controls were found [p-value>0.05 (All the p-values were Bonferroni corrected)]. Also, no association of studied SNPs with the severity of the disease asthma was observed. However, the TTA haplotype was observed to be associated with asthma (OR = 3.4; 95%CI = 1.4–8.7; p = 0.002). Conclusions: SNPs, T+1, S+1 and V − 3 do not individually confer any significant risk of asthma or its severity, but haplotype analysis suggests all three polymorphisms together play an important role in the disease of asthma.

Influence of Feeding Azolla Containing Complete Pellet Feed on Performance of Goat Kids

A field trial was conducted to study the effect of feeding azolla (Azolla microphylla) containing complete pellet feed on growth, blood and rumen metabolites in growing goats. Eight non-descript male kids (4–5 months of age and 13.6±0.86 live weight) were divided in 2 groups of 4 each. The control group was fed with complete pellet feed having Bengal gram straw and concentrate mixture in 60: 40 ratio. The treatment group was fed with iso-nitrogenous complete pellet feed in which 25% of concentrate mixture was replaced with sun dried azolla. The duration of experimental feeding was 60 days. Blood and rumen liquor samples were collected at the end of experimental feeding. Though, average daily gain was similar in both the groups (55 and 82.92 g) but the inclusion of azolla improved the growth rate by 27 g/d. The DM intake and feed conversion ratio were similar in both the groups. The values of blood (Hb, total protein, albumin, globulin, Ca and P) and rumen fermentation parameters (pH, total volatile fatty acids, ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, TCA-ppt nitrogen and non-protein nitrogen) were also similar in two groups of goat kids. It was concluded that sun dried azolla could replace 25% of concentrate mixture in complete pellet diets of growing goats.

Effect of Azolla Supplementation on Semen Quality, Haematology and Rumen Metabolites in Barbari Bucks

A study was undertaken to assess the effect of supplementation of fresh azolla on semen quality, haematology and rumen metabolites in Barbari bucks under intensive management system. Ten bucks (age 2–3 years) were randomly divided into control (n=5) and treatment (n=5) groups. Both the groups were fed concentrate pellet at the rate of 400 g daily and ad libitum bengal gram straw. In the treated group fresh green azolla was supplemented at the rate of 100 g/buck daily for 120 days. Semen samples from each buck were collected with the help of artificial vagina after 60 days of experimental feeding. Blood and rumen samples from each buck were collected after 90 days of experimental feeding. Supplementation of azolla significantly (P<0.05) improved the reaction time from 37.33 sec in control to 24.13 sec in treatment group. Progressive motility (%) also improved from 54.33 in control to 81.33 in treatment group. Semen volume, percent live, dead and abnormal spermatozoa as well as blood characters and rumen metabolites did not differ in control and treatment groups. It was concluded that supplementation of fresh azolla improved reaction time and progressive motility of spermatozoa in Barbari bucks without affecting haematology and rumen metabolites.