Genetic polymorphisms of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin and eosinophil cationic protein in tropical pulmonary eosinophilia

Because eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) are critical in the pathogenesis of tropical pulmonary eosinophilia (TPE), we analyzed genetic polymorphisms of both in 181 individuals from southern India with varying clinical manifestations of Witchereria bancrofti infection (including 26 with TPE). Using haplotype frequency analysis, we identified four known (of nine) and two novel haplotypes for EDN (1 2 7 8, 10, and 11). For ECP, five (of seven known) haplotypes (1-5) were identified. Although we found no significant association between frequencies of EDN and ECP polymorphisms and TPE development, we observed a unique pattern of EDN and ECP polymorphism distribution among this population. Genotype TT at locus 1088 of ECP in one TPE patient was not observed in any other clinical group. Although the EDN and ECP polymorphisms appear unlikely to be associated with the development of TPE, further analyses will be more definitive.