Chitinases and Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGFB) in Human Asthma
| Status: | Active, not recruiting |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Asthma |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Pulmonary / Respiratory Diseases |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 70 |
| Updated: | 10/21/2018 |
| Start Date: | February 2010 |
| End Date: | April 2019 |
Chitinases and TGFB in Human Asthma
The purpose of this study is to find out the roles of two specific gene families (the
chitinase gene family and the TGFB family). We hypothesize that chitinases and TGFb pathway
genes will be differentially expressed in the airways of non-asthmatic subjects and subjects
with asthma. We further hypothesize that genetic variants in CHIT1, AMCase, and TGFb pathway
genes that show associations with asthma and related phenotypes will change the expression
and/or function of the protein of these genes in the airway in several ways, including the
transcript numbers for full length genes and splice variants and, for the chitinase genes,
the levels of chitinase activity in airway secretions.
chitinase gene family and the TGFB family). We hypothesize that chitinases and TGFb pathway
genes will be differentially expressed in the airways of non-asthmatic subjects and subjects
with asthma. We further hypothesize that genetic variants in CHIT1, AMCase, and TGFb pathway
genes that show associations with asthma and related phenotypes will change the expression
and/or function of the protein of these genes in the airway in several ways, including the
transcript numbers for full length genes and splice variants and, for the chitinase genes,
the levels of chitinase activity in airway secretions.
This is a cross-sectional study in patients with asthma and healthy controls in which we will
analyze how the expression or function of CHIT1, AMCase, and TGFb pathway genes in the
asthmatic airway is affected by genetic variation in these genes. We propose detailed
phenotyping of the asthmatic subjects and the healthy controls, including collection of
induced sputum, exhaled air and detailed physiologic measures including measures of airflow,
lung volumes, and methacholine responsiveness as well as collection of airway cells and
tissues by bronchoscopy. We will determine the relative expression of CHIT1 and AMCase in
specific lung compartments (large airways, small airways, epithelial cells, macrophages) and
the effects of genetic variants in CHIT1 and AMCase on expression of splice variants and
levels of chitinase activity in the airway. These human samples will also allow us to
determine if any of the multiple TGFb pathway genes analyzed show differential expression in
the lung in asthma.
analyze how the expression or function of CHIT1, AMCase, and TGFb pathway genes in the
asthmatic airway is affected by genetic variation in these genes. We propose detailed
phenotyping of the asthmatic subjects and the healthy controls, including collection of
induced sputum, exhaled air and detailed physiologic measures including measures of airflow,
lung volumes, and methacholine responsiveness as well as collection of airway cells and
tissues by bronchoscopy. We will determine the relative expression of CHIT1 and AMCase in
specific lung compartments (large airways, small airways, epithelial cells, macrophages) and
the effects of genetic variants in CHIT1 and AMCase on expression of splice variants and
levels of chitinase activity in the airway. These human samples will also allow us to
determine if any of the multiple TGFb pathway genes analyzed show differential expression in
the lung in asthma.
Inclusion Criteria:
- History of asthma
- No use of oral or inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma in the past 6
weeks
- Hyperreactivity to methacholine (PC20FEV1 Methacholine ≤ 8.0 mg/mL).
- At least one of the following symptoms, beta agonist use, or FEV1 criteria:
- Asthma symptoms on at least two days per week, or
- Beta agonist use on at least two days per week, or
- FEV1 < 85% predicted
- Subjects must be non-smokers (patients who have never smoked or patients who have not
smoked for 1 year and have a total pack-year smoking history < 10 packs).
Exclusion Criteria:
- Cigarette smoking: Subjects must be non-smokers. Non smokers are defined as subjects
who have never smoked or who have not smoked for 1 year and have a total pack-year
smoking history < 10 packs.
- Pregnant women
- Subjects with a history of a medical disease which in the opinion of the investigator
may put the subject at extra risk from study-related procedures or because the disease
may influence the results of the study.
- Healthy control subjects must have no history of asthma or allergic rhinitis
- Upper respiratory tract infection in the 4 weeks prior to enrollment in the study
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