Frontiers in Genetics (Sep 2021)

HIF-1α Pulmonary Phenotype Wide Association Study Unveils a Link to Inflammatory Airway Conditions

  • Jelte Kelchtermans,
  • Jelte Kelchtermans,
  • Xiao Chang,
  • Michael E. March,
  • Frank Mentch,
  • Patrick M. A. Sleiman,
  • Hakon Hakonarson,
  • Hakon Hakonarson

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2021.756645
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12

Abstract

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Despite experimental data linking HIF-1α dysfunction to inflammatory airway conditions, the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms within the HIF1A gene on these conditions remains poorly understood. In the current study, we complete a phenotype wide association study to assess the link between SNPs with known disease associations and respiratory phenotypes. We report two SNPs of the HIF1A gene, the intronic rs79865957 and the missense rs41508050. In these positions the A and the T allele are significantly associated with allergic rhinitis and acute bronchitis and bronchiolitis, respectively. These findings further support the role of HIF-1α in inflammatory pulmonary conditions and may serve as a basis to refine our understanding of other HIF-1α associated phenotypes.

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