A recent study presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting revealed that various nasal key driver genes are linked to ozone and fine particulate matter exposure in patients with asthma. The study, conducted by researchers including Supinda Bunyavanich, MD, MPH, MPhil, and Yoojin Chun, MS, analyzed data from 167 patients with mild to severe persistent asthma in the New York metropolitan area.

The researchers identified six key driver genes for ozone exposure and three for fine particulate matter exposure in patients with persistent asthma. The FGL2 gene appeared in both types of pollution, indicating its significance in asthma exacerbations triggered by poor air quality.

The study utilized U.S. Environmental Protection Agency stations to measure daily levels of air pollutants, providing insight on ozone and PM2.5 levels. RNA sequencing was then used to identify nasally-expressed genes from patient samples.

Among the patients in the cohort, most identified as white or Latino, with fewer patients identifying as Black, Asian, or other. The researchers found a mean Asthma Control Test score of 16.6, indicating relatively lower asthma control, and 31% of the cohort had an FEV1 percent predicted less than 80%, reflecting compromised lung function.

Key driver genes for PM2.5 exposure included FGL2, TNFRSF10C, and EVI2B. Additionally, FGL2, known as a master regulator of asthma, was identified as a key driver gene in ozone exposure along with CLC, LGALS12, CPA3, HRH4, and IL7R. Notably, CLC was found to be a distinct upstream key driver in ozone exposure, with a known link to multimorbidity for asthma, dermatitis, and rhinitis.

The findings of this study shed light on the genetic factors associated with asthma exacerbations due to environmental exposures, highlighting the importance of addressing air quality issues to improve asthma control and management.