Role of functional single-nucleotide polymorphism of the opioid receptor gene in stress-induced exacerbation of asthma

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25461164
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Respiratory organ internal medicine
• Research Institution: Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
• Principal Investigator: OHNO Isao 東北医科薬科大学, 医学部, 教授 (00250762)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 喘息 / ストレス / オピオイド受容体 / 遺伝子多型

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Psychological stress is recognized as a key factor in the exacerbation of allergic asthma. Previously, we have reported that μ-opioid receptors in the central nervous system are involved in the stress-induced exacerbation of asthma using a mouse model. In the present study, we investigated the association between the functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of rs1799971 in the μ-opioid receptor gene (OPRM1) and asthma exacerbation in ambulatory patients. SNP genotyping analysis showed that the allele frequencies for rs1799971 were 35.9% AA, 40.7% AG, and 22.9% GG in the patients with asthma. GG homozygotes, compared with A carriers, showed greater airway responses to methacholine. Among the obese patients, G carriers, compared with AA homozygotes, had higher eosinophil counts in the peripheral blood and greater airflow limitation (as measured by FEV1%). These results suggest that SNP of rs1799971 in the OPRM1 may be associated with asthma exacerbation.

Free Research Field

呼吸器内科学