Toll-like receptor 10 rs4129009 gene polymorphism is associated with post-bronchiolitis lung function in adolescence.

Aim: The aim was to evaluate the association of polymorphisms in the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 subfamily encoding genes with lung function by spirometry at 10-13 years of age in children who had been hospitalised for bronchiolitis at <6 months of age.

Methods: In a prospective cohort of 166 former bronchiolitis patients, 138 returned a structured questionnaire and 89 attended a clinical follow-up visit including spirometry before and after bronchodilation at 10-13 years of age. Data on polymorphisms of the TLR1, TLR2, TLR6 and TLR10 genes were available from 81-82 children.

Results: In the TLR10 rs4129009, the wild (AA) genotype was associated with lower FEV1/FVC before (92.4 vs 97.4, P = .002) and after (95.5 vs 98.6, P = .011) bronchodilator administration, compared to those with the variant genotype. When the TLR10 rs4129009 and TLR2 rs5743708 genotypes, and the TLR10 rs4129009 and TLR1 rs5743618 genotypes, respectively, were analysed as combined, both baseline and post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC were lowest in the subjects with the wild (AA) genotype of the TLR10 rs4129009.

Conclusion: In this post-bronchiolitis follow-up, lung function in children with the variant TLR10 rs4129009 genotype with potentially altered TLR10 function was superior to lung function in those with the wild genotype.