Genome-wide association study on overweight in Brazilian children with asthma: Old stories and new discoveries.

Introduction: Overweight and obesity are chronic and multifactorial diseases with a strong genetic component contributing to weight gain across all age groups. This study aimed to conduct a Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) on a cohort of 1,004 Brazilian children (5-11 years old) to identify specific DNA regions associated with susceptibility to overweight.

Methods: The GWAS was performed on children participating in the SCAALA (Asthma and Allergy Social Changes in Latin America) program, with participants classified as either overweight or non-overweight.

and Genetic Variants Are Involved in Th2 Immune Responses to .

Genetic and epigenetic factors are considered to be critical for host-parasite interactions. There are limited data on the role of such factors during human infections with . Here, we describe the potential role of genetic factors as determinants of the Th2 immune response to in Brazilian children.

New variants in NLRP3 inflammasome genes increase risk for asthma and -induced allergy in a Brazilian population.

Atopic asthma is a chronic lung disease of lower airways caused mainly due to action of T-helper (Th) 2 type cytokines, eosinophilic inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and airway remodelling. Interleukin (IL)-33 increases type 2 immunity polarization in airway playing critical role in eosinophilic asthma. On the other hand, NLRP3 inflammasome activation results in the release of caspase-1 (Casp-1) which, in its turn, promotes IL-33 inactivation.

Polymorphisms in the DAD1 and OXA1L genes are associated with asthma and atopy in a South American population.

Atopic asthma, which is characterized by the chronic inflammation and morbidity of airways, is a disease of great complexity, and multiple genetic and environmental factors are involved in its etiology. In the first genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted in Brazil for asthma, a positive association was found between atopic asthma and a variant (rs1999071), which is located between the DAD1 and OXA1L genes, although neither gene has previously been reported to be associated with asthma or allergies. The DAD1 gene is involved in the regulation of programmed cell death, and OXA1L is involved in biogenesis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.