Genetic variations in taste receptors are associated with chronic rhinosinusitis: a replication study

Recent evidence implicates polymorphisms of the bitter taste receptor TAS2R38 as defining characteristics in respiratory innate defense that may contribute to the complex genetic and environmental interactions predisposing to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The purpose of this study was to (1) verify whether identified polymorphisms associated with respiratory infection in taste receptors replicate within our existing population of patients with CRS and (2) identify other taste receptors potentially associated with CRS.

Pooling-based genomewide association studies (pGWAS) were previously performed on 2 populations of Canadian CRS patients (genetics of chronic rhinosinusitis 1, refractory CRS [GCRS1]; and genetics of chronic rhinosinusitis 2, CRS with nasal polyposis [GCRS2]) using the Illumina HumanHap 1-M chip. The pGWAS data were screened for polymorphisms in taste receptor genes. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were considered replicated when the allele frequency differences were ≥10% in cases compared to controls.

The previously identified TAS2R38 coding SNP rs10246939 (I296V) was associated with CRS in both populations. The difference in allele frequency in cases compared to control subjects was 11% in GCRS1 and 15% in GCRS2. In addition, 3 previously undescribed missense variants were associated with CRS in our populations: 1 in the TAS2R13 gene (rs1015443), and the others in the TAS2R49 gene (rs12226920, rs12226919).

This study replicates previous work which showed that the coding SNP rs10246939 in the TAS2R38 gene is associated with CRS. Moreover, the results suggest that other taste receptors may be implicated in CRS. Further studies using individual genotyping and sequencing, and functional studies will provide more information about the implication of these genetic variants in CRS.