BACKGROUND: Secretoglobin family 3A member 2 (SCGB3A2) plays an important role in secreting lung surfactant protein, which is a downstream target of thyroid transcription factor.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We investigated whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SCGB3A2 gene contribute to susceptibility to asthma. To explore this possible association, 2 promoter SNPs (rs6882292, 659 G/A and rs1368408, -112 G/A) and missense SNP (rs151333009, stop codon) were tested in SCGB3A2 gene in 101 asthma patients and 377 healthy control subjects. SNPStats was used to obtain odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and P value adjusted for age and sex as covariables. Logistic regression method in each model (dominant, recessive, and log-additive) was applied to analyze genetic data.

RESULTS: rs151333009 SNP showed a monomorphic genotype. Two promoter SNPs (rs6882292, -659 G/A and rs1368408, -112 G/A) showed significant association with asthma (rs6882292, OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.42–5.01, p=0.0033 in dominant model, OR=2.45, 95% CI=1.33–4.54, p=0.0055 in log-additive model; rs1368408, OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.02-2.49, p=0.041 in dominant model, OR=3.02, 95% CI=1.15–7.90, p=0.03 in recessive model, OR=1.63, 95% CI=1.63, 95% CI=1.12–2.37, p=0.012 in log-additive model).

CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the promoter SNPs (rs6882292 and rs1368408) of SCGB3A2 gene may contribute to susceptibility to asthma in a Korean population.

Keywords: Association, Case-Control Studies, Polymorphism, Genetic, Secretoglobins