Elevated fractional exhaled nitric oxide and blood eosinophil counts are associated with a 17q21 asthma risk allele in adult subjects

Figures & data

Table 1 Study population

Genotype	CC	CT	TT
Population (n)	47	123	85
Age (mean)	28.7	27.6	28.0
Gender (male %)	45.7	40.2	47.6
Asthma (%)	63.0	52.5	76.2
Self-reported allergies (%)	91.3	85.2	84.5
Ethnicity (% Hispanic)	15.2	23.8	26.2
Race	2% American Indian	2% American Indian	1% American Indian
	2% Pacific Islander	3% Asian	4% Asian
	96% Caucasian	4% African American	9% African American
		91% Caucasian	86% Caucasian

Figure 1 Self-reported age of asthma onset.

Notes: Box plots for the self-reported age of asthma onset in years for each subject (n=252) stratified by their genotype at SNP rs7216389, CC, CT, or TT. Boxes denote the median and 25th to 75th percentiles with whiskers extending to the farthest points within 1.5 times the box height. The P-value indicates the significance of the association between the number of T alleles and age of onset.
Abbreviation: SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Figure 2 FeNO.

Notes: Box plots for the FeNO measured in ppb for the asthma subgroup (n=95) stratified by genotype at SNP rs7216389, CC, CT, and TT. Boxes denote the median and 25th to 75th percentiles with whiskers extending to the farthest points within 1.5 times the box height. The P-value indicates the significance of the association between the number of T alleles and FeNO levels.
Abbreviations: FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Figure 3 Eosinophil counts.

Notes: (A) Box plots for the geometric mean eosinophil counts for the entire cohort (n=252) stratified by genotype at SNP rs7216389, CC, CT, and TT. Boxes denote the median and 25th to 75th percentiles with whiskers extending to the farthest points within 1.5 times the box height. The eosinophil count of 200/mm³ is shown as dashed line. (B) Percentage of subjects in entire cohort with geometric mean eosinophil count >200/mm³ stratified by genotype at SNP rs7216389, CC, CT, and TT. The P-value indicates the significance of the association between the number of T alleles and the percentage of individuals with eosinophil counts >200/mm³.
Abbreviation: SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Figure 4 ORMDL3 expression.

Notes: (A) EOS and PBMCs were isolated from six blood donors, mRNA was purified, and gene expression was measured by Q-PCR. Box plots of ORMDL3 gene expression normalized to b-actin and shown as fold inductions relative to the control (monocyte population) from the same donor. Boxes denote the median and 25th to 75th percentiles with whiskers extending to the farthest points within 1.5 times the box height. (B) EOS and PBMC cell lysates were prepared from a representative donor and protein expression of ORMDL measured by Western blot.
Abbreviations: EOS, eosinophils; PBMCs, peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Figure S1 FeNO.

Notes: Box plots for the FeNO measured in ppb for the Caucasian non-Hispanic subgroup (n=120) stratified by genotype at SNP rs7216389, CC, CT, and TT. Boxes denote the median and 25th to 75th percentiles with whiskers extending to the farthest points within 1.5 times the box height. The P-value indicates the significance of the association between the number of T alleles and FeNO levels.

Abbreviations: FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Figure S2 Percentage of donors in Caucasian non-Hispanic cohort (n=176) with geometric mean eosinophil counts >200/mm³ stratified genotype at SNP rs7216389, CC, CT, and TT. The P-value indicates the significance of the association between the number of T alleles and the percentage of individuals with eosinophil counts >200/mm³.

Abbreviation: SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Table S1 FeNO study population

Genotype	CC	CT	TT
Population (n)	20	37	38
Age (mean)	31.0	29.0	30.0
Gender (male %)	70.0	40.5	55.3
Self-reported allergies (%)	95.0	100	100
Ethnicity (% Hispanic)	15.0	5.4	10.5
Race	5% Pacific Islander	3% Asian	5% Asian
	95% Caucasian	97% Caucasian	5% African American 90% Caucasian
FEV1% pred. (25th–75th percentile)	88.6% (80.1–98.5)	95.2% (85.5–109.0)	92.7% (84.5–103.5)

Abbreviations: FeNO, fractional exhaled nitric oxide; FEV1, forced expiratory volume in 1 second.