ADAM33 and ADAM12 genetic polymorphisms and their expression in Egyptian children with asthma.

Background: The ADAM family is involved in some pathologic processes, such as inflammation and asthma.

Objectives: To assess the association between ADAM33 and ADAM12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with asthma risk and severity and to investigate the effect of ADAM33 and ADAM12 polymorphisms on expression of these proteases in sputum.

Methods: Two SNPs of the ADAM33 gene, F+1 (rs511898) G/A and ST+4 (rs44707) A/C, and 2 SNPs of the ADAM12 gene, rs3740199 and rs1871054, were analyzed in 400 asthma cases and 200 controls aged 3 to 14 years using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.