A quantitative genetic analysis of intermediate asthma phenotypes

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelfagfællebedømt

  • S.F. Thomsen
  • M.A.R. Ferreira
  • K.O. Kyvik
  • M. Fenger
  • Backer, Vibeke
  • S F Thomsen
  • M A R Ferreira
  • K O Kyvik
  • M Fenger
  • V Backer
To study the relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the correlation between exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), airway responsiveness, airway obstruction, and serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE). Within a sampling frame of 21 162 twin subjects, 20-49 years of age, from the Danish Twin Registry, a total of 575 subjects (256 intact pairs and 63 single twins) who either themselves and/or their co-twins reported a history of asthma at a nationwide questionnaire survey, were clinically examined. Traits were measured using standard techniques. Latent factor models were fitted to the observed data using maximum likelihood methods. Additive genetic factors explained 67% of the variation in FeNO, 43% in airway responsiveness, 22% in airway obstruction, and 81% in serum total IgE. In general, traits had genetically and environmentally distinct variance structures. The most substantial genetic similarity was observed between FeNO and serum total IgE, genetic correlation (rho(A)) = 0.37, whereas the strongest environmental resemblance was observed between airway responsiveness and airway obstruction, specific environmental correlation (rho(E)) = -0.46, and between FeNO and airway responsiveness, rho(E) = 0.34. Asthma is a complex disease characterized by a set of etiologically heterogeneous biomarkers, which likely constitute diverse targets of intervention
Udgivelsesdato: 2009/3
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftAllergy. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology
Vol/bind64
Udgave nummer3
Sider (fra-til)427-30
Antal sider3
ISSN0105-4538
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2009

Bibliografisk note

Times Cited: 0ArticleEnglishThomsen, S. FBispebjerg Hosp, Dept Resp Med, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, DenmarkCited References Count: 15411ULWILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INCCOMMERCE PLACE, 350 MAIN ST, MALDEN 02148, MA USAMALDEN

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