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Cystic fibrosis
Nitric oxide synthase 1 as a potential modifier gene of decline in lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis
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  1. J Texereau1,
  2. S Marullo2,
  3. D Hubert3,
  4. J Coste4,
  5. D J Dusser3,
  6. J Dall’Ava-Santucci1,
  7. A T Dinh-Xuan1
  1. 1Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Université Paris 5, Paris, France
  2. 2Department of Cell Biology, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, Paris, France
  3. 3Service de Pneumologie, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Université Paris 5, Paris, France
  4. 4Service d’Informatique Médicale et de Biostatistiques, Hôpital Cochin, AP-HP, Université Paris 5, Paris, France
  1. Correspondence to:
    Professor A T Dinh-Xuan
    Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpital Cochin, 27 rue du faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75014 Paris, France; anh-tuan.dinh-xuancch.ap-hop-paris.fr

Abstract

Background: The severity of lung disease varies widely in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have the same type of mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene, suggesting involvement of “modifier” genes. The nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) gene is a candidate for this role because exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is reduced in patients with CF and NOS1 activity contributes to transepithelial ionic transport, immune defence, and non-specific inflammation of the airways.

Methods: Dinucleotide GT repeat polymorphism was studied in the 5′ untranslated region of the NOS1 gene, immediately upstream from the transcription initiation site, in 59 patients with CF and 59 healthy controls.

Results: Nineteen alleles of the NOS1 gene were identified according to the number of GT repeats (from 18 to 36) in the 5 untranslated region. Exhaled NO levels were significantly correlated with the number of GT repeats. Patients with CF who had the NOS1 genotype associated with high NO production had a slower decline in lung function during the 5 year follow up period. There was no confounding effect of age, chronic bacterial colonisation of the airway, or CFTR genotype.

Conclusions: These data suggest a possible link between the NOS1 gene locus and the rate of decline in lung function in patients with CF.

  • polymorphism
  • nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) gene
  • genetics
  • cystic fibrosis
  • lung function

https://doi.org/10.1136/thorax.2003.006718

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    Footnotes

    • This work was supported by grants from the Legs Poix, Chancellerie des Universités, Académie de Paris, France.