Beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene polymorphisms and the risk of asthma: a meta-analysis of case-control studies

A number of studies have assessed the relationship between beta-2 adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene polymorphisms and asthma risk. However, the results are inconsistent. A meta-analysis that focused on the association between asthma and all ADRB2 polymorphisms with at least three case-control studies was thus performed. A literature search of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, and Wangfang databases was conducted. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of associations. Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu, Thr164Ile, and Arg19Cys single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in 46 case-control studies. The results showed that not all of the SNPs were associated with asthma in the overall population. Significant associations were found for the Arg16Gly polymorphism in the South American population via dominant model comparison (OR = 1.754, 95% CI = 1.179-2.609, I2 = 16.9%, studies = 2, case = 314, control = 237) in an analysis stratified by ethnicity. For the Gln27Glu polymorphism, a protective association was found in children via recessive model comparison (OR = 0.566, 95% CI = 0.417-0.769, I2 = 0.0%, studies = 11, case = 1693, control = 502) and homozygote genotype comparison (OR = 0.610, 95% CI = 0.434-0.856, I2 = 0.0%, studies = 11, case = 1693, control = 1502), and in adults via dominant model comparison (OR = 0.864, 95% CI = 0.768-0.971, I2 = 46.9%, n = 18, case = 3160, control = 3433). None of the ADRB2 gene polymorphisms were reproducibly associated with a risk of asthma across ethnic groups in the general population.