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Genetic factors explain half of all variance in serum eosinophil cationic protein
Author(s) -
Elmose C.,
Sverrild A.,
Sluis S.,
Kyvik K. O.,
Backer V.,
Thomsen S. F.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/cea.12445
Subject(s) - eosinophil cationic protein , methacholine , exhaled nitric oxide , genetic variation , immunology , coefficient of variation , heritability , analysis of variance , eosinophil , medicine , asthma , biology , respiratory disease , lung , chemistry , genetics , population , environmental health , bronchoconstriction , chromatography
Summary Background Eosinophil cationic protein ( ECP ) is one of four basic proteins of the secretory granules of eosinophils. It has a variety of functions associated with inflammatory responses. Little is known about the causes for variation in serum ECP levels. Aim To identify factors associated with variation in serum ECP and to determine the relative proportion of the variation in ECP due to genetic and non‐genetic factors, in an adult twin sample. Methods A sample of 575 twins, selected through a proband with self‐reported asthma, had serum ECP , lung function, airway responsiveness to methacholine, exhaled nitric oxide, and skin test reactivity, measured. Linear regression analysis and variance component models were used to study factors associated with variation in ECP and the relative genetic influence on ECP levels. Results Sex (regression coefficient = −0.107, P < 0.001), body mass index ( BMI ) (0.007, P = 0.028), and airway responsiveness to methacholine (0.074, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with ECP . Adjusted for these factors, ECP correlated 0.53 ( P < 0.001) and 0.27 ( P = 0.001) in monozygotic and dizygotic twins, respectively ( P ‐value for difference = 0.05). According to the most parsimonious variance component model, genetic factors accounted for 57% ( CI : 42–72%, P < 0.001) of the variance in ECP levels, whereas the remainder (43%) was ascribable to non‐shared environmental factors. The genetic correlation between ECP and airway responsiveness to methacholine was statistically non‐significant ( r = −0.11, P = 0.50). Conclusion Around half of all variance in serum ECP is explained by genetic factors. Serum ECP is influenced by sex, BMI , and airway responsiveness. Serum ECP and airway responsiveness seem not to share genetic variance.