OBJECTIVE: To investigate the differences of IL-4, IFN-gamma gene promoter methylation of allergic rhinitis patients between Uygur and Han people of Xinjiang. METHOD: Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) detected IL-4, IFN-gamma gene methylation of each of 50 patients with allergic rhinitis in Uygur and Han. RESULT: Complete IL-4 gene promoter methylation rate was 44% (22/50) and 48% (24/50) in Uygur and Han AR patients, un-methylation was 26% (13/50) and 22% (11/50), coexistence rate of methylation and un-methylation was 30% (15/50) and 30% (15/50). Complete IFN-gamma gene promoter methylation rate was 12% (6/50) and 16% (8/50) in Uygur and Han AR patients, un-methylation was 8% (4/50) and 10% (5/50), coexistence rate of methylation and unmethylated was 80% (40/50) and 74% (37/50). Distribution of IL-4 gene methylation between Han and Uygur AR patients had no statistically significant (P > 0.05). Distribution of IFN-gamma gene methylation between Han and Uygur AR patients had no statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION There is no difference of IL-4, IFN-gamma gene methylation in patients between the Han and Uygur.
Adult ; China ; epidemiology ; DNA Methylation ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Ethnic Groups ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; genetics ; Interleukin-4 ; genetics ; Male ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; epidemiology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo analyze possible difference in bronchial asthma between ethnic and geographic groups and explore its correlates among Uygur and Han adults in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty-six clinically diagnosed asthmatic patients at Turpan Prefecture Hospital, Xinjiang, 86 of Uygur and 80 of Han ethnic, and 166 1:1 matched controls from ophthalmological outpatient department at the same hospital were recruited into the study. Interview with questionnaire was conducted and serum levels of eosinophilic cation protein (S-ECP), total IgE (T-IgE) and specific IgE (S-IgE) were measured for all of the participants to study related factors for asthma with univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses.

RESULTSBronchial infection (OR(U) = 5.111, 95%CI: 1.203 - 21.710; OR(H) = 2.498, 95%CI: 1.471 - 5.069), family history of asthma (OR(U) = 3.078, 95%CI: 1.812 - 5.188; OR(H) = 2.711, 95%CI: 1.010 - 6.176), personal allergy history (OR(U) = 2.083, 95%CI: 1.043 - 4.162; OR(H) = 3.998, 95%CI: 1.739 - 9.198), weather change (OR(U) = 2.218, 95%CI: 1.199 - 3.778; OR(H) = 1.733, 95%CI: 1.004 - 2.994) and positive S-IgE (OR(U) = 1.592, 95%CI: 1.018 - 2.491; OR(H) = 3.858, 95%CI: 2.246 - 8.507) correlated with asthma in patients of both Uygur and Han ethnic. Percentage of asthma attack induced by respiratory infection [59.30% (51/86)] and weather change [36.05% (31/86)] in Uygur patients was significantly higher than that in Han ethnic [42.50% (34/80) and 21.25% (17/80), respectively], but percentage of those with personal allergy history [48.75% (39/80)] and positive S-IgE [52.50% (42/80)] in Han ethnic was significantly higher than that in Uygur [32.56% (28/86) and 30.23% (26/86), respectively]. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma of both Uygur and Han ethnic [(S-ECP(U) = 7.95 +/- 3.98) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (11.21 +/- 4.74) microg/L, T- IgE(U) = (72.23 +/- 45.92) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (108.81 +/- 64.07) kU/L, respectively]were significantly higher than those in controls of the same ethnic [S- ECP(U) = (1.94 +/- 1.16) microg/L, S-ECP(H) = (2.07 +/- 1.63) microg/L, T-IgE(U) = (46.19 +/- 32.47) kU/L, T-IgE(H) = (50.97 +/- 38.51) kU/L; t values were 8.96, 10.52, 2.81, 4.97, P < 0.01], higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur (t values were 3.01, 2.68, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBronchial infection, family asthma history, personal allergy history, weather change and positive S-IgE all were important correlates of asthma in Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang. Levels of S-ECP and T-IgE in patients with moderate and severe asthma increased during its attacks, higher in Han ethnic than those in Uygur. Genetic and environmental factors may be involved in occurrence and development of asthma.

Adult ; Asthma ; blood ; epidemiology ; ethnology ; Causality ; China ; epidemiology ; Climate ; Environmental Exposure ; Eosinophil Cationic Protein ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Pedigree ; Surveys and Questionnaires