House Dust Endotoxin Levels Are Associated with Adult Asthma in a U.S. Farming Population

Megan Ulmer Carnes; Jane A Hoppin; Nervana Metwali; Annah B Wyss; John L Hankinson; Elizabeth Long O'Connell; Marie Richards; Stuart Long; Laura E Beane Freeman; Dale P Sandler; Paul K Henneberger; Christie Barker-Cummings; David M Umbach; Peter S Thorne; Stephanie J London

doi:10.1513/AnnalsATS.201611-861OC

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House Dust Endotoxin Levels Are Associated with Adult Asthma in a U.S. Farming Population

Journal article

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House Dust Endotoxin Levels Are Associated with Adult Asthma in a U.S. Farming Population

Megan Ulmer Carnes, Jane A Hoppin, Nervana Metwali, Annah B Wyss, John L Hankinson, Elizabeth Long O'Connell, Marie Richards, Stuart Long, Laura E Beane Freeman, Dale P Sandler, …

Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Vol.14(3), pp.324-331

03/2017

DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201611-861OC

PMCID: PMC5427722

PMID: 27977294

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Abstract

Endotoxin initiates a proinflammatory response from the innate immune system. Studies in children suggest that endotoxin exposure from house dust may be an important risk factor for asthma, but few studies have been conducted in adult populations. To investigate the association of house dust endotoxin levels with asthma and related phenotypes (wheeze, atopy, and pulmonary function) in a large U.S. farming population. Dust was collected from the bedrooms (n = 2,485) of participants enrolled in a case-control study of current asthma (927 cases) nested within the Agricultural Health Study. Dust endotoxin was measured by Limulus amebocyte lysate assay. Outcomes were measured by questionnaire, spirometry, and blood draw. We evaluated associations using linear and logistic regression. Endotoxin was significantly associated with current asthma (odds ratio [OR], 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-1.47), and this relationship was modified by early-life farm exposure (born on a farm: OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.02-1.37; not born on a farm: OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.26-2.20; Interaction P = 0.05). Significant positive associations were seen with both atopic and nonatopic asthma. Endotoxin was not related to either atopy or wheeze. Higher endotoxin was related to lower FEV /FVC in asthma cases only (Interaction P = 0.01). For asthma, there was suggestive evidence of a gene-by-environment interaction for the CD14 variant rs2569190 (Interaction P = 0.16) but not for the TLR4 variants rs4986790 and rs4986791. House dust endotoxin was associated with current atopic and nonatopic asthma in a U.S. farming population. The degree of the association with asthma depended on early-life farm exposures. Furthermore, endotoxin was associated with lower pulmonary function in patients with asthma.

Dust - analysis

United States - epidemiology

Humans

Middle Aged

Toll-Like Receptor 4 - genetics

Logistic Models

Male

Gene-Environment Interaction

Asthma - genetics

Case-Control Studies

Environmental Exposure - adverse effects

Agriculture - statistics & numerical data

Lipopolysaccharide Receptors - genetics

Female

Surveys and Questionnaires

Aged

Respiratory Sounds

Odds Ratio

Endotoxins - analysis

Asthma - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: House Dust Endotoxin Levels Are Associated with Adult Asthma in a U.S. Farming Population
Creators: Megan Ulmer Carnes - 1 Epidemiology Branch and
Jane A Hoppin - 2 Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina
Nervana Metwali - 3 Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Annah B Wyss - 1 Epidemiology Branch and
John L Hankinson - 4 Hankinson Consulting, Inc., Athens, Georgia
Elizabeth Long O'Connell - 5 Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina
Marie Richards - 6 Westat, Durham, North Carolina
Stuart Long - 6 Westat, Durham, North Carolina
Laura E Beane Freeman - 7 Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland; and
Dale P Sandler - 1 Epidemiology Branch and
Paul K Henneberger - 8 Respiratory Health Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, Morgantown, West Virginia
Christie Barker-Cummings - 5 Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., Durham, North Carolina
David M Umbach - 9 Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
Peter S Thorne - 3 Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Stephanie J London - 1 Epidemiology Branch and
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Annals of the American Thoracic Society, Vol.14(3), pp.324-331
DOI: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.201611-861OC
PMID: 27977294
PMCID: PMC5427722
NLM abbreviation: Ann Am Thorac Soc
ISSN: 2325-6621
eISSN: 2325-6621
Publisher: American Thoracic Society; United States
Grant note: P30 ES005605 / NIEHS NIH HHS Z01 CP010119 / Intramural NIH HHS Z01 ES049030 / Intramural NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 03/2017
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health
Record Identifier: 9983997369502771

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