Cytokine gene polymorphisms in Pigeon Breeder’s Disease expression

Cláudia Freitas; Bruno Lima; Natália Martins; Natália Melo; Patricia Mota; Helder Novais-Bastos; Helena Alves; Oksana Sokhatska; Luís Delgado; António Morais

doi:10.36141/svdld.v37i3.9342

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in Pigeon Breeder’s Disease expression

Authors

Cláudia Freitas Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
Bruno Lima Oficina de Bioestatística, Ermesinde, Portugal
Natália Martins Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), University of Porto, Portugal; Laboratory of Neuropsychophysiology, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, University of Porto, Portugal
Natália Melo Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal
Patricia Mota Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
Helder Novais-Bastos Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (I3S), University of Porto, Portugal
Helena Alves National Health Institute Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Porto, Portugal
Oksana Sokhatska Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
Luís Delgado Basic and Clinical Immunology Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal; Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal
António Morais Pulmonology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de São João, Porto, Portugal; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Portugal

Keywords:

Pigeon breeder’s disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, cytokines, genetic polimorphisms

Abstract

Background: Exaggerated immunological response to repeated inhalation of organic or chemical dusts may lead to Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis among sensitized individuals. Only a few exposed individuals became ill and disease expression pattern is highly variable which suggest that genetic factors may play a role.

Objective: To investigate interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß, and IL-10 gene polymorphisms in a cohort of pigeon breeder’s disease (PBD) patients in comparison with asymptomatic exposed controls and the association with different patterns of disease.

Methods: We evaluated 40 PBD patients and 70 exposed controls. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-ß, and IL-10 polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction–sequence specific primer amplification.

Results: Polymorphism analysis of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-ß, and IL-10 genotypes and allele frequencies showed no differences between patients and controls. IFN-γ T/T genotype frequency was increased among patients with chronic presentation (RR=2.33, p=0.047) compared with those with acute/subacute presentation. Also, chronic presenting patients had an increased frequency of IFN-γ T allele (50% vs 22.5%, RR=1.76, p=0.011). No differences were found in TNF-α, IL-6, TGF-ß, and IL-10 genotypes neither allelic frequencies between both groups of patients. IL-6 C/C genotype was more frequent in patients who showed chronic evolution (RR=2.54, p=0.017), when comparing with patients with disease resolution.

Conclusion: IFN-γ T/T and the IL-6 C/C genotypes seem to play a role in HP expression, as their frequencies are increased in chronic presentations or in those with chronic evolution one year after the initial diagnosis, respectively.