Risk of allergy and its immune phenotypes in children with MMP9 Q279R gene polymorphism

Scientific research with its focus on allergic diseases relies on up-to-date molecular-genetic methods for identifying individual genetic variability; it seems an important stage in the implementation of programs with their aim to early detect and mitigate risks of such diseases. In this study, our aim was to identify features of immune regulation associated with Q279R MMP9 gene polymorphism (rs17576) and benzene contamination in biological media in children with allergic diseases. The test group included 33 children with allergic diseases; the reference group consisted of 40 relatively healthy children. CD-markers were identified with flow cytometry. Genotyping was performed with a real-time polymerase chain reaction. The research revealed elevated levels of total IgE, IL-4 and TNFalfa under elevated benzene contamination in biological media that were by 1.2-4.2 times higher in the examined children with allergic diseases than in the reference group (р = 0.006-0.03). Q279R MMP9 gene polymorphismin in children from the test group had authentically more frequent occurrence of the GG and AG genotypes, by 1.7 times higher than in the reference group. This allows considering the allele G of the MMP9 gene as a sensitivity marker in children with allergic diseases (OR = 2.34; 95 % CI = 1.17-4.65). We established a growth by 2.8 times in total IgE level and greater IL-4 and TNFalfa expression, by 1.4 and 1.3 times accordingly, in carriers of the allele G against those carrying the homozygote AA genotype among the examined children with allergic diseases (р = 0.020-0.042). Logistic regression analysis established the adequacy of the dominant model (p = 0.01) and revealed a possible association between carriage of the AG and GG genotypes of Q279R MMP9 gene polymorphism and developing allergy (OR = 3.61; 95 % CI = 1.34-9.71). A risk of developing allergy combined with benzene contamination in biological media and gene polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase MMP9 (rs17576) is by 2.1 times higher for the allele G carriers against the AA genotype carriers (RR = 2.08; 95 % CI = 1.13-3.83). This allows considering the allele G of the MMP9 Q279R gene as a sensitivity marker in children with allergic diseases.