Polymorphisms 836A>G of the MMP9 gene and -174G/C of the IL-6 gene associated with a high risk of allergic pathology in children

Introduction. The high level of allergic diseases among the child population requires for research to develop modern approaches to the diagnosis and prevention of atopic processes with the detection of specific highly sensitive biomarkers of immunoregulation, including genetic ones, with a detailed analysis of individual etiopathogenetic links in the development of the disease.

Materials and methods. The children’s population of secondary school age in the Perm region was examined: 65 children with allergic pathology and 55 relatively healthy children. Markers of hypersensitivity were studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. SNP genotyping was performed using real-time PCR.

Results. Children with manifestations of allergy showed an increase in the allergization index by 1.4 times, in blood eosinophils – by 2.3 times, and total IgE concentration by 12.6 times relative to the group of healthy children (p < 0.001). Significant associations with the development of allergic diseases of candidate genes polymorphisms 836G*MMP9 (OR = 2.09; 95% CI = 1.10–3.99) and -174G*IL-6 (OR = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.20–4.25) was revealed. A comparative analysis of the combination of alleles of candidate immunoregulatory genes 836G*MMP9/-174G*IL-6 with alternative allelic combinations showed its significant association with an increased risk of developing allergic pathology (RR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.27–3.41), activation of allergic inflammation markers: total IgE and blood eosinophils (on average 4.5 and 1.8 times) for children with allergic pathology (p = 0.003–0.014).

Research limitations. The study is limited by the size of the sample examined.

Conclusion. The data obtained indicates to the risk of developing allergic pathology in children for the combination of candidate gene alleles 836G*MMP9/-174G*IL-6 (RR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.27–3.41), so it should be recommended as a promising marker for early diagnosis, prevention and correction of atopic diseases in children.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki by the World Medical Association (revised in 2013) and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal Scientific Center for Medical and Preventive Health Risk Management Technologies (Protocol No. 9 of March 14, 2023). All legal representatives of the examined children signed a voluntary informed consent to participate in the study.

Contributions of the authors:
Starkova K.G. — concept and design of the study, collection and processing of material, statistical processing, text writing;
Dolgikh O.V. — concept and design of the study, editing, responsibility for the integrity of all parts of the article;
Legostaeva T.A. — collection and processing of material, text writing.
All authors — approval of the final version of the article.

Acknowledgment. The research was not granted any sponsor support.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no apparent or potential competing interests related to publication of this article.

Received: August 12, 2024 / Accepted: October 3, 2024 / Published: December 28, 2024