Genetic relationships between high blood eosinophil count, asthma susceptibility, and asthma severity

Huashi Li, Xingnan Li

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: Genetic relationships between blood eosinophil count (BEC), asthma susceptibility, and severity are unclear. We sought to identify the genetic difference between type 2 (T2) and nontype 2 (non-T2) asthma (defined by BEC) and investigate genetic relationships between high BEC, asthma susceptibility, and severity. Methods: Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) were performed for T2 (n = 9,064; BEC ≥ 300 cells/μL) versus non-T2 asthma (n = 14,379; BEC < 150 cells/μL) and asthma susceptibility (37,227 asthmatics vs. 124,132 nonasthma controls) in the UK Biobank and asthma severity (moderate-to-severe asthma [n = 2,153] vs. mild asthma [n = 5165]) in the All of Us Research Program (AoURP). Genetic causality between BEC, asthma susceptibility, and severity were dissected using Mendelian randomization (MR). Results: High BEC was associated with asthma and decreased pulmonary function. GWASs revealed four sets of genetic variants (p < 5 × 10−8): genes associated with only BEC or asthma and genes associated with high BEC and asthma in the same or opposite direction. The C allele of rs653178 in ATXN2 was associated with high BEC, risk for autoimmune diseases, and protection for asthma. Genetic variants associated with BEC or asthma were not associated with asthma severity. MR indicated high BEC and asthma were in bidirectional causal relationship (p <.001); however, they were not causal for asthma severity. Conclusions: Genetic variants associated with asthma or BEC and asthma severity are distinctive. High BEC is a risk factor for asthma; however, it is neither necessary nor sufficient for asthma susceptibility and severity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)119-131
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Asthma
Volume61
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

Keywords

  • All of Us Research Program
  • Mendelian randomization
  • UK Biobank
  • asthma severity
  • asthma susceptibility
  • blood eosinophil count
  • genome-wide association study

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine

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