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. 2012;7(5):e36672.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036672. Epub 2012 May 9.

Associations between nitric oxide synthase genes and exhaled NO-related phenotypes according to asthma status

Emmanuelle Bouzigon  1 , Florent Monier, Mekki Boussaha, Nicole Le Moual, Hélène Huyvaert, Régis Matran, Sébastien Letort, Jean Bousquet, Isabelle Pin, Mark Lathrop, Francine Kauffmann, Florence Demenais, Rachel Nadif; EGEA Cooperative Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Associations between nitric oxide synthase genes and exhaled NO-related phenotypes according to asthma status

Emmanuelle Bouzigon et al. PLoS One. 2012.

Abstract

Background: The nitric oxide (NO) pathway is involved in asthma, and eosinophils participate in the regulation of the NO pool in pulmonary tissues. We investigated associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of NO synthase genes (NOS) and biological NO-related phenotypes measured in two compartments (exhaled breath condensate and plasma) and blood eosinophil counts.

Methodology: SNPs (N = 121) belonging to NOS1, NOS2 and NOS3 genes were genotyped in 1277 adults from the French Epidemiological study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA). Association analyses were conducted on four quantitative phenotypes: the exhaled fraction of NO (Fe(NO)), plasma and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) nitrite-nitrate levels (NO2-NO3) and blood eosinophils in asthmatics and non-asthmatics separately. Genetic heterogeneity of these phenotypes between asthmatics and non-asthmatics was also investigated.

Principal findings: In non-asthmatics, after correction for multiple comparisons, we found significant associations of Fe(NO) levels with three SNPs in NOS3 and NOS2 (P ≤ 0.002), and of EBC NO2-NO3 level with NOS2 (P = 0.002). In asthmatics, a single significant association was detected between Fe(NO) levels and one SNP in NOS3 (P = 0.004). Moreover, there was significant heterogeneity of NOS3 SNP effect on Fe(NO) between asthmatics and non-asthmatics (P = 0.0002 to 0.005). No significant association was found between any SNP and NO2-NO3 plasma levels or blood eosinophil counts.

Conclusions: Variants in NO synthase genes influence Fe(NO) and EBC NO2-NO3 levels in adults. These genetic determinants differ according to asthma status. Significant associations were only detected for exhaled phenotypes, highlighting the critical relevance to have access to specific phenotypes measured in relevant biological fluid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: FD received a grant of €720 000 in November 2002 for the follow-up and genetic studies of the EGEA cohort. This does not alter the authors' adherence to all the PLoS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Flowchart of the studied population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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