Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 17, 2026
Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
Published on: August 7, 2017
Cumulative Genetic Risk for Asthma Contributes to Disease Severity in Children with Asthma living in Urban
Matthew Dapas1, William Wentworth-Sheilds2, Emma E Thompson2
1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine; Center for Human Immunobiology; Center for Genetic Medicine; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
Background:
Childhood-onset asthma is highly heritable, with nearly 200 risk loci identified in genome-wide association studies. Aggregated polygenic risk scores can be used to quantify genetic predisposition to asthma, but their power to predict asthma severity in multi-ancestral groups has not been determined.
Objective:
Our aim was to examine the predictive power of biobank-derived asthma polygenic risk scores in children with asthma living in urban environments.
Methods:
We generated polygenic risk scores for asthma, derived from a large-scale genome-wide association meta-analysis, in four multi-ancestry asthma study cohorts of children living in urban environments. We assessed genetic predictions across different subphenotypes of asthma and tested for associations between genetic asthma risk and measures of asthma severity.
Results:
Genetic asthma prediction was significantly stronger for more symptomatic asthma phenotypes (P<0.001). Polygenic risk scores were significantly higher in difficult-to-control vs. easy-to-control asthma (P=0.02). Genetic risk was also significantly associated with more frequent exacerbations (P=0.03), higher blood eosinophil levels (P=0.01), and lower lung function (P<0.001).
Conclusion:
Cumulative genetic risk for asthma is associated with disease severity and exacerbation risk in children with asthma living in urban environments.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation