Toll-like receptor 1 and 10 gene polymorphisms are linked to postbronchiolitis asthma in adolescence

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are innate immunity molecules and our previous studies found that TLR1 gene polymorphism was associated with postbronchiolitis asthma at one to six years of age, as was TLR10 at five to seven years of age. This study examined any associations at 11-13 years of age.

This prospective follow-up study was part of an ongoing evaluation of children admitted to Tampere University Hospital, Finland, for bronchiolitis in 2001-2004 at less than six months of age. We evaluated the association of TLR1 rs5743618 and TLR10 rs4129009 polymorphisms with asthma and asthma medication in 125 children aged 11-13 years.

Associations were measured as adjusted odd ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The variant TLR1 rs5743618 (aOR 4.04, 95% CI 0.99-13.01) and TLR10 rs4129009 (aOR 7.02, 95% CI 1.56-31.53) genotypes increased the risk of needing inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) at 11-13 years of age. The variant TLR10 genotype (aOR 7.69, 95% CI 1.35-43.95) increased the risk of persistent asthma continuing from five to seven years of age until 11-13 years of age. The results were similar when the combined genotypes were analysed. [Correction added on 3 October 2017, after online publication: The data in the variant TRL1 rs5743618 genotype were incorrect and have been corrected in this version.] CONCLUSION: Polymorphisms in both the TLR1 and TLR10 genes may increase the risk of asthma at 11-13 years after infant bronchiolitis.