Genetic and environmental influences on objective intermediate asthma phenotypes in Dutch twins
- 14 January 2010
- journal article
- research article
- Published by European Respiratory Society (ERS) in European Respiratory Journal
- Vol. 36 (2), 261-268
- https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00123909
Abstract
It is unclear to what extent the same set of environmental or genetic factors regulate objective intermediate asthma phenotypes. We examined heritabilities of these phenotypes and estimated their environmental and genetic overlap. We studied baseline lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC), bronchial hyperresponsiveness, number of positive skin prick tests (SPT) to 11 allergens, serum total immunoglobulin (Ig)E, number of positive specific IgE tests to four allergens and eosinophil counts. 103 twin pairs were studied (46 monozygotic and 57 dizygotic; mean age: 22.5 yrs, range: 17.0–27.0 yrs). Univariate and bivariate genetic analyses were performed after adjustment for significant covariates. All intermediate asthma phenotypes showed significant heritabilities (47–83%). Most phenotypes were substantially correlated, which was mainly due to shared genetic factors. Pairs of phenotypes with the largest genetic correlations were specific IgE and SPT (0.98), and total IgE with specific IgE (0.87), with SPT (0.72), and with eosinophils (0.62). SPT showed significant environmental correlations with total IgE (0.65), specific IgE (0.70) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (0.44). Genetic effects explain the majority of the variation in objective intermediate asthma phenotypes. Additionally, correlations between pairs of these traits are also mainly explained by genetic rather than environmental factors.Keywords
This publication has 29 references indexed in Scilit:
- Association and interaction analyses of eight genes under asthma linkage peaksAllergy, 2009
- Etiological Relationships in Atopy: A Review of Twin StudiesTwin Research and Human Genetics, 2008
- Genetics of parentally reported asthma, eczema and rhinitis in 5-yr-old twinsEuropean Respiratory Journal, 2007
- Multivariate genetic analysis of atopy phenotypes in a selected sample of twinsClinical and Experimental Allergy, 2006
- The effect of natural pollen exposure on eosinophil apoptosis and its relationship to bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitisAnnals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2005
- Perinatal risk factors for bronchial hyperresponsiveness and atopy after a follow-up of 20 yearsJournal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2004
- Theory and Practice in Quantitative GeneticsTwin Research, 2003
- Association between Alcohol Use and Smoking in Adolescent and Young Adult Twins: A Bivariate Genetic AnalysisAlcohol: Clinical and Experimental Research, 1997
- The power of the classical twin study to resolve variation in threshold traitsBehavior Genetics, 1994
- Late bronchial obstructive reaction to experimental inhalation of house dust extractClinical and Experimental Allergy, 1972