The TSLP gene polymorphisms in asthmatic children and their association with serum TSLP level and gene-environment interactions analysis

LI Zhumei; ZHANG Yali; WU Guihong; MENG Wenjuan; ZHU Xiaoping

doi:10.13431/j.cnki.immunol.j.20250036

Abstract：Objective To explore the association of the TSLP gene polymorphisms at rs3806932,rs11466741 and rs2289278 loci with childhood asthma and serum TSLP levels,and to analyze the effects of gene-environment interactions on asthma risk in children.Methods A total of 145 children with asthma and 108 healthy controls were included.Genotyping was performed using KASP and MassARRAY SNP technologies,and serum TSLP levels were measured by ELISA.Differences in allele and genotype frequencies between the two groups were analyzed,along with the impact of genetic models on asthma risk.Differences in serum TSLP levels across groups were compared.Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis were performed using Haploview 4.2,and GMDR 0.9 software was used to assess gene-environment interactions.Results No significant differences were found in the allele and genotype frequencies of the three TSLP gene loci between the two groups(P＞0.05).Under the co-dominant model,children with the AG genotype at the rs3806932 locus had 1.750 times the risk of developing asthma compared to those with the AA genotype(95％CI:1.018-3.010,P=0.043).Under co-dominant and overdominant models,children with the CT genotype at the rs11466741 locus had 1.705 times the asthma risk compared to those with the CC genotype(95％CI:1.006-2.891,P=0.048),and 1.698 times the risk compared to those with the CC-TT genotype(95％CI:1.019-2.827,P=0.041).Serum TSLP levels were significantly higher in asthma patients with the CT genotype than those with the CC genotype at the rs11466741 locus(P=0.032).Serum TSLP levels were higher in the asthma group with allergic rhinitis(AR)compared to the group without AR(P＜0.01).No significant differences were observed in the distribution of haplotypes frequencies(AC,GT,GC)between the two groups(P＞0.05).GMDR analysis showed that the highest asthma risk was observed in children with heterozygous genotypes(CT,AG)at both rs11466741 and rs2289278,or those with the CT genotype at rs11466741,a history of passive smoking,and a cesarean section delivery(P＜0.05).Conclusion Polymorphisms in the TSLP gene at rs3806932 and rs11466741 are associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma.Variants at the rs11466741 locus affect serum TSLP levels in children with asthma.Asthma combined with AR leads to elevation of serum TSLP levels.The interaction between rs11466741 and rs2289278,along with environmental factors(passive smoking and cesarean section),contributes to the increase of asthma risk in children.