J ALLERGY CLIN IMMUNOL

VOLUME 133, NUMBER 2

Abstracts AB67

SATURDAY

238 Aerobiology Of Texas Panhandle and Efficiency Of AHPCO

Technology As Air Purifier, Surface Sterilizer In FoodProcessing

Dr. Nabarun K. Ghosh, PhD1, Dr. Constantine K. Saadeh, MD,

FAAAAI2, Dr. Jeff Bennert, PhD, CTN3, Ms. Griselda Estrada, BS1;1West Texas A&MUniversity, Canyon, TX, 2Allergy ARTS ACCR, Ama-

rillo, TX, 3AIR OASIS, Amarillo, TX.

RATIONALE: Allergy and Asthma cases have doubled in Texas

Panhandle area since 2007. We have collected aeroallergen samples and

characterized for 14 years. We used a novel AHPCO or Advanced

Hydrated Photocatalytic Oxidation technology to produce filter less air

purifier, surface sterilizer for cell phones and meat processing facilities.

METHODS: We have been analyzing the daily aeroallergen by using the

coated Melinex tape from the Burkard Volumetric Spore Trap. Exposed,

stained Melinex tape was observed under a BX-40 Olympus microscope.

We assessed the AHPCO Technology for potential uses as air purification

unit, surface sterilizer and net reduction of bacteria, fungi during food

processing. A fiberglass chamber was built to evaluate the performance and

safety of the air purifiers. Blood, Human cell culture and plant cells were

exposed to the AO chamber and The UV chambers to compare the

exposures. Petriplates, meat, vegetables were placed in the chamber to

assess the capacity of sterilization. Images were captured with FITC,

TRITC Filters with a BX40 and SZ-CTVOlympusMicroscopes and SEM.

RESULTS: 14 years’ aeroallergen data of Texas Panhandle revealed a

gradual shift in aeroallergen index with the warmer climate and a shift in

flowering seasons.

CONCLUSIONS: Strongwind current, maximum number of feedlots and

dry-land agriculture and a gradual shift in flowering season– all contribute

to a high concentration of allergic cases among the residents of Texas

Panhandle. AHPCO technology proved to be an efficient way to reduce

aeroallergen and prevent contamination during food processing.

239 IL-33 and IL1RL1 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and TheirAssociation With Asthma Among Puerto Ricans

Dr. Javier A. Mendez, MD, Dr. Sylvette Nazario, MD, Dr. Angel

Laureano, MD, Dr. Adriana Baez, PhD, Ms. Bianca Rivera, PhDc; Univer-

sity of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, San Juan, PR.

RATIONALE: Puerto Ricans have the highest asthma prevalence and

mortality rates among all ethnic groups in the United States. The cause of

this health disparity has not been elucidated, but may reflect a high

prevalence of genetic risk factors for asthma in this population. Multiple

genes have been associated with asthma among other ethnic groups, but

most attempts to replicate these findings among Puerto Ricans have been

unsuccessful. The aim of this study was to test whether SNPs in IL-33 and

IL1RL1, two components of the innate immunity, are associated with

asthma among Puerto Ricans.

METHODS: 41 asthmatic Puerto Ricans and 53 healthy controls were

recruited for this case-control study. Saliva samples were obtained from

each participant to analyze SNPs rs1921622 in IL1RL1 and rs1342326 in

IL-33. SNP genotyping was performed using Real-time Polymerase Chain

Reaction (PCR). Skin testing for common aeroallergens was performed on

asthmatic subjects to determine atopic status. Associations between

genetic variants of IL-33 and IL1RL1 with asthma and asthma phenotypes

were performed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS: Both alleles studied demonstrated Hardy-Weinberg equilib-

rium (p<0.05). IL-33 gene variants were not associated with asthma

(p50.83), allergic asthma (p50.62), or asthma severity (p50.08).

Similarly, no associations were found between IL1RL1 gene variants

with asthma (p50.48) or asthma phenotypes.

CONCLUSIONS: The gene variants of IL-33 and IL1RL1 analyzed in

this study do not confer an increased risk of asthma or asthma-associated

phenotypes among Puerto Ricans.

240 Genetic Effect Of Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms In ThePPARGC1BGeneOnAirwayHyperreactivity InAsthmaticPatients

Dr. Jong-Sook Park, MD, Dr. Myung-Sin Kim, Dr. Sung-Woo Park,

Dr. An-Soo Jang, Dr. Choon-Sik Park, MD; Soonchunhyang University

Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon, South Korea.

RATIONALE: PPARGC1B is a co-activator for the estrogen receptor,

PPAR. Genetic association of the PPARGC1Bgene with the risk of asthma

and airway hyperreactivity was investigated.

METHODS: Genotyping was done in 264 controls and 949 asthmatics

using single-base extension methods. PPARGC1B, CHRM2, and CHRM3

mRNA levels were measured using real-time PCR methodology. Dual

luciferase reporter assays were performed to functionally analyze

+102525G>ASNPs on exon 5.

RESULTS: 18SNPs and1 insertion/deletionpolymorphismwere identified,

and 7 SNPs were genotyped. No significant difference existed in the

distribution of SNPs and haplotypes between the asthmatics and controls.

However, the allele frequency of -427C>T and +102525G>A;R265Q

showed a significant association with log-transformed PC20 methacholine

values in the asthmatics (P5 0.005–0.0004). Real-time PCR demonstrated

higher PPARGC1B mRNA levels in asthmatics having -427CC allele than

in those having -427TT or CT alleles (P 5 0.048). The ratio of the mRNA

expression for each PPARGC1B exon4-mRNA compared to the wild type

was similar in peripheral blood mononuclear cells carrying the

+102525G>A allele. Dual luciferase reporter assays revealed that

+102525A allele caused higher activation of ERa with estrogen than

+102525G allele. The ratio of the CHRM2, CHRM3, and b2ADR mRNA

expression for +102525A of PPARGC1B /ERa co-transfected 293T cells

mRNA showed a significant up regulation when compared to +102525G

of PPARGC1B /ERaco-tansfected 293T cells mRNA.

CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms of +102525G>A on exon 5 of the

PPARGC1B gene may affect the development of AHR through the modu-

lation of PPARGC1B gene products. The PPARGC1B genotypes may

serve as genetic markers for AHR.

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