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Gene linked to asthma in children with early life viral respiratory illness

A study published in PLOS ONE found that children who contracted bronchiolitis in the first two years of life and had a common variation of the Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene were 17 times more likely to develop asthma, according to a recent news release.

In addition, children with the Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) gene — an enzyme that responds to viral illnesses by intensifying the production in the airways — and any early life lower respiratory tract infection that required medical attention regardless of severity increased the risk for asthma by 12 times. 

Researchers of the study evaluated 3,483 Latino children with and without asthma between the ages of 8 and 21 years.

Overall, only the combination of the PAI-1 gene and an early life severe viral respiratory illness was associated with higher asthma risk and worse lung function. The genetic variant alone did not increase the risk of asthma.

Results were replicated in a smaller population of African-American children.

“Our findings suggest that genetic influences on asthma might be more pronounced in the context of early life environmental exposures, especially viral respiratory infections,” Rajesh Kumar, MD, lead study researcher from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in the news release.

“These results could lead to studies moving towards the personalized prevention of asthma. Further research is needed to see if we can intervene with genetically susceptible children prior to or during a lower respiratory tract infection to reduce their chances of developing asthma.” – by Alaina Tedesco

Reference: http://www.newswise.com/articles/study-found-a-gene-associated-with-asthma-in-children-who-had-a-viral-illness-early-in-life