AluyMICB dimorphism within the class I region of the major histocompatibility complex is associated with asthma and airflow obstruction in the Busselton population

Abstract

Aim: To examine the association between the Alu dimorphism within the first intron of the MICB gene and asthma and airflow obstruction. Background: The highly polymorphic non-classical MHC class I polypeptide-related (MIC) genes, MICA and MICB, encode stress inducible glycoproteins, which are expressed on a variety of epithelial cells, including those of the lungs. Methods: AluyMICB genotyping was performed on 1109 subjects from the Busselton Health Study. From a standard questionnaire, 359 individuals indicated that they had been diagnosed by a doctor with asthma. Lung function was assessed by the forced expired volume in 1 second (FEV1) and expressed as a percent of the predicted value. Airflow obstruction was defined as FEV1 < 80% predicted. Results: In men, a dominant relationship was found between the AluyMICB DD genotype and asthma (P = 0.006; χ22 = 7.65). Furthermore, multivariate analysis adjusted for age, height, weight and body mass index (BMI) showed a relationship between DD genotype and asthma in men in a dominant model (odds ratio (OR) = 1.97; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-3.51; P = 0.021). In women, an association was found between the AluyMICB II genotype and FEV1 percent predicted as a continuous variable (P = 0.001). When adjusted for age and BMI, it showed a significant relationship between AluyMICB and airflow obstruction in a dominant model (OR = 14.11%, 95% CI 3.29-60.57, P < 0.001). However, no association was found between the AluyMICB II genotypes and airflow obstruction in men. Conclusion: These findings suggest the possible involvement of a MHC class I gene in abnormal airway structure in women and airway function in men. © 2006 The Authors.