Gene variant increases risk of asthma

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Testing lung function in a Hutterite community. Credit: Jason Smith for the University of Chicago Medical Center
Testing lung function in a Hutterite community. Credit: Jason Smith for the University of Chicago Medical Center

A tiny variation in a gene known as CHI3L1 increases susceptibility to asthma, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and decline in lung function, researchers report early online in the New England Journal of Medicine. (The printed version will appear in the April 17 issue). The gene variant causes increased blood levels of YKL-40, a biomarker for asthma. A slightly different version of the genetic variation lowers YKL-40 levels and protects against asthma.


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