Asthma patients experience respiratory distress due to allergens like house dust mites or pollen. However, the various triggers for asthma share a common pathway involving the release of proteins called type-2 cytokines by Type-2 helper T (Th2) cells and group-2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s). Both Th2 and ILC2 require high amounts of GATA-binding protein 3 (GATA3) for their maturation.
Specific gene sequences called enhancers are responsible for elevating the expression of GATA3 genes in humans. Studies have found that by controlling the production of GATA3, enhancers influence the development of Th2 and ILC2. The gene region G900, located close to the GATA3 gene, is currently being investigated for its role in the asthma inflammation pathway.
In a recent breakthrough, a study by researchers from Chiba University that was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA on June 24, 2024, has discovered that the mouse gene region corresponding to the human G900 is involved in Th2 differentiation and consequently in enhancing allergic responses, although not ILC2. Multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have aimed to elucidate the underlying biology and predict susceptibility to asthma. The importance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the 10p14 locus has been indicated in several independent studies, not only in asthma susceptibility but also in a broad spectrum of allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and eos.