Investigation of association of the plasma adiponectin concentrations and adiponectin gene polymorphisms with bronchial asthma in Li nationality of Hainan

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of changes in plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with bronchial asthma and the association between adiponectin gene polymorphisms and bronchial asthma in the Li nationality of Hainan.  Methods: The levels of plasma adiponectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 120 Li bronchial asthmatics at acute exacerbation or remission stage, and compared with healthy controls. The gene polymorphisms of adiponectin were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RLFP).  Results : The patients at remission stage showed significantly elevated level of plasma adiponectin (P< 0.01) and decreased IL-6 and TNF-α level (P<0.01) compared to those at acute exacerbation. No significant difference was detected between the remission patients and controls. Statistically significant differences in the frequency of adiponectin SNP276 T/ T genotype and T-allele occurrence were revealed between the acute exacerbation and remission groups. Conclusion : The inverse correlation between the level of plasma adiponectin concentration and asthma exacerbation indicates that adiponectin may play a protective role in the pathogenesis of asthma in Li. Meanwhile, adiponectin SNP276 T/T genotype and variation of T allele might be the predisposing factors of bronchial asthma in the Li nationality.