β2-adrenergic receptor gene polymorphisms in normal and asthmatic individuals in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia

摘要

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Several polymorphisms of the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2-AR) gene have been identified, including the amino acid substitution from arginine (Arg) to glycine (Gly) at codon 16 and from glutamine (Gln) to glutamic acid (Glu) at codon 27. These substitutions affect receptor function and show significantly more agonist-promoted receptor down-regulation than cells expressing the Arg 16/Gln 27 variants. Although the ethnic dependency of this polymorphism has been described in other populations, no studies investigating its relationship to asthma have been conducted in the Saudi population . Therefore, our main objective was to determine the prevalence of these two mutations among patients with asthma in the Eastern Province and in matched healthy controls.