High frequency of a deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme gene in asthma

Background: An insertion-deletion polymorphism of the angiotensis-converting enzyme (ACE) gene has been shown to be associated with levels of ACE. Because ACE is heavily expressed in the lungs and plays a key role in the metabolism of angiotensin II and bradykinin, which are potentially il2volved in the pathogenesis of asthma, we rested the hypothesis of an association between the polymorphism of the ACE gene and asthma. Methods: Seventy-nine patients with asthma, 54 healthy subjects, and 33 patients with nonasthmatic lung disease were studied. Pulmonary function tests were performed in patients with asthma, and the ACE genotypes were determined in all subjects by the polymerase chain reaction. Results: The ACE genotype distribution was similar in healthy subjects and in patients without asthma. By cona ast, the population of patients with asthma was characterized by a higher prevalence of the DD genotype of ACE (odds ratio, 2.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.05 to 4.16; p = 0.023). No difference in pulmonary function test results was detected in asthmatic patients according to the distribution of ACE genotypes. Conclusion: This study reports an association between the DD genotype of ACE and asthma, which is not related to the degree of ail-way obstruction. These results need to be confirmed by a larger case-control study.