Pet keeping and tobacco exposure influence CD14 methylation in childhood.

Background: Several CD14 gene-environment interactions in relation to the development of allergic diseases have been reported, but the underlying biological mechanisms are unclear. We recently showed that CD14 methylation increased during childhood, parallelling a decreased impact of CD14 polymorphisms on soluble CD14 levels. Here, we aim to explore whether environmental stimuli during childhood affects CD14 methylation, thereby providing a biological mechanism through which environment may modulate genetic effect.

CD14 polymorphisms and serum CD14 levels through childhood: a role for gene methylation?

Background: CD14 is a pattern-recognition receptor for environmental LPS, and engagement of the CD14-LPS complex activates innate host defense mechanisms. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CD14 gene have been associated with soluble CD14 (sCD14) levels, but inconsistencies between studies suggest the presence of regulatory mechanisms hitherto not well understood.

Objective: We sought to investigate possible associations between CD14 SNPs and sCD14 levels at different time points in childhood (at birth [cord blood] and 2 and 10 years) and to explore whether these associations were related to CD14 gene methylation.