Genetic Predisposition to Latex Allergy: Role of Interleukin 13and Interleukin 18

After institutional review board approval from the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, (Baltimore, Maryland) and written informed consent, 432 healthcare workers (anesthesiologists, surgeons, and operating room nurses) with occupational exposure to NRL were screened using a clinical history questionnaire (see  appendix). Occupational exposure consisted of physical contact and inhalation of airborne NRL proteins from latex-containing medical gloves and supplies. The questionnaire examined the participants' history of atopic disease (seasonal rhinitis, asthma, eczema, and food allergies), symptoms associated with the use of latex gloves and other NRL-containing devices, and the consistency and frequency of any suggestive delayed-type or immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. The demographics of the participants are presented in table 1.

Latex allergy cases (24 of 432) were defined as subjects with a positive latex-specific IgE serology and symptoms consistent with a type I hypersensitivity to latex (table 2). Symptoms were required to be immediate in nature (over a few minutes) and not limited to only the area of contact with the latex-containing product. Two control groups were characterized. The first control group consisted of 130 individuals who were negative for latex allergen-specific IgE and asymptomatic for all latex exposures but atopic by history (i.e. , had a history of either seasonal rhinitis, asthma, eczema, or food allergies). The second control group consisted of 101 individuals who were identified as latex-allergen IgE negative, asymptomatic for latex exposures, and nonatopic by history (i.e. , no history of seasonal rhinitis, asthma, or eczema) and with an absence of food allergy. Of the remaining 177 individuals who were screened, all were latex-specific IgE antibody negative but reported either allergic symptoms consistent with contact dermatitis upon latex glove use (delayed reactions usually occurring over days and limited to the area of contact with the gloves) or a food allergy. We intentionally excluded individuals with a history consistent with contact dermatitis symptoms because they can still be sensitized to latex.2These 177 individuals were excluded from further analyses.

Whole blood (10 ml) was collected by venipuncture from each subject using synthetic gloves and tourniquet. The specimen was clotted for 30 min and centrifuged, and the serum was separated. Samples were coded and stored at −20°C. Each serum specimen was analyzed for the presence and quantity of IgE antibody specific to NRL allergens using the Pharmacia CAP System (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Kalamazoo, MI), which uses a solid matrix covalently attached to native latex allergenic proteins derived from nonammoniated latex (K82). Results are reported in kilounits of allergen-specific IgE antibody per liter (kUa/l) with a positive result greater than 0.35 kUa/l. All latex-specific IgE measurements were repeated for confirmation of results. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the latex allergen IgE CAP System assay have been reported at 74.8% and 93.8%, respectively.10 

An additional 10 ml whole blood was drawn from each subject into a tube containing K³EDTA and stored frozen at −80°C. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral lymphocytes using the sodium perchlorate/chloroform extraction protocol as described by Johns et al. ,11resuspended in sterile Tris-EDTA buffer, and stored at 4°C. DNA was measured using a DU640 Spectrophotometer (Beckman Coulter Inc., Fullerton, CA). To analyze the single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the candidate genes of interest, we used various polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques, including direct sequencing, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism, mutagenically separated PCR, and allelic discrimination using TaqMan probes.

To confirm the presence of each single-nucleotide polymorphism within the population under study and validate the accuracy of the publicly available genomic DNA sequence data, automated sequencing was performed on a subset of individuals using primers (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA) designed to flank each polymorphism (table 3). PCR amplifications were performed according to Nadif et al.  12in a GeneAmp PCR System 9700 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA), using annealing temperatures as indicated in table 3. Products were resolved on low-melt agarose (Invitrogen) gels containing ethidium bromide and 1× Tris-borate-EDTA buffer, visualized and cut over ultraviolet light, and purified using the QIAquick Gel Extraction Kit (Qiagen, Valencia, CA) according to manufacturer's recommended protocol. Purified PCR products were then mixed with sense primer and sequenced. Results were analyzed using the basic local alignment search tool software available from the National Center for Biotechnology Information Web site.13Assays were subsequently designed for each single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Subjects were genotyped for the IL18 −6078and IL4 −5894polymorphisms using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Sense and antisense primers were designed for IL18 −607 (table 3) and synthesized by Invitrogen. Amplification reactions used the FailSafe PCR System (Epicenter Technologies, Madison, WI) containing 1× FailSafe PCR premix B, 0.4 μm of each primer, 0.375 units FailSafe PCR Enzyme mix, and 60 ng DNA. Digestion of the PCR products was carried out with 7.5 units Mse  I (New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA), 1× buffer 2, and 1× bovine serum albumin at 37°C for 3 h. Primers for IL4 −589 were synthesized according to the design of Walley et al.  4(table 3). Amplification reactions were performed according to Nadif et al.  12in a final volume of 15 μl. Digestion was achieved by incubation of PCR products with BsmF  I (New England Biolabs) and 1× buffer 4 at 65°C for 1.5 h. Cycling for both polymorphisms was performed in a GeneAmp PCR System 9700 (Applied Biosystems) with the following parameters: 94°C for 5 min; 30 cycles of 94°C for 30 s, annealing temperature (table 3) for 30 s and 72°C for 30 s; final extension at 72°C for 7 min. Products were resolved by electrophoresis on 2% agarose gels (Invitrogen) containing ethidium bromide and 1× Tris-borate-EDTA buffer; imaging and analysis were accomplished using a GelDoc 2000 (BioRad, Hercules, CA). Resultant product sizes for IL18 −607 were 14, 37, 60, 199 base pairs (bp) for individuals homozygous for the C allele; 14, 37, 60, 98, 101, 199 bp for heterozygotes; and 14, 37, 60, 98, 101 bp for individuals homozygous for the A allele. The resultant product sizes for IL4 −589 were 192 bp for C allele homozygotes, 252 and 192 bp for heterozygote alleles, and 252 bp for A allele homozygotes.

Promoter polymorphisms IL13 −1055 (C->T),5,IL18 −137 (G->C),8and IL18 −656 (T->G)8were analyzed by mutagenically separated PCR, a modification of allele-specific PCR in which reactions for all alleles of each single-nucleotide polymorphism are carried out in a single tube.14A pair of sense primers and a single antisense primer per polymorphism were designed (table 3), and assays were optimized according to the guidelines of Rust et al.  14Final concentration reaction mixtures contained 1.5 mm MgCl², 200 μm GeneAmp dNTP mix (Applied Biosystems); 0.15 μm wild-type sense primer; 0.12 or 0.08 μm mutant sense primer for IL13  or IL18  polymorphisms, respectively; 0.2 μm antisense primer; 0.5 units Taq  DNA Polymerase (Invitrogen); and 60 ng DNA. The cycling parameters were as follows: 94°C for 5 min; 40 cycles of 94°C for 30 s, annealing temperature (table 3) for 45 s and 72°C for 45 s; final extension at 72°C for 7 min. Amplification products were resolved on 3% agarose gels (Invitrogen) containing ethidium bromide and 1× Tris-borate-EDTA buffer, and both imaging and analysis were performed on a GelDoc 2000 (BioRad). Resultant product sizes for the two alleles differed by 20 bp.

Allelic discrimination with TaqMan Probes was used to genotype IL18 +113 (T->G) and IL18 +127 (C->T) polymorphisms. A set of common primers and unique pairs of TaqMan MGB probes were designed for each assay utilizing Primer Express software version 2.0 (Applied Biosystems). Primers (table 3) were synthesized by Invitrogen, and TaqMan MGB probes were synthesized by Applied Biosystems. Reactions contained 900 nm of each primer, 200 nm of each TaqMan probe, 1× TaqMan Universal PCR MasterMix with No AmpErase UNG, and 20 ng DNA. Cycling was performed according to the manufacturer's recommended protocol, consisting of 95°C for 10 min followed by 40 cycles of 92°C for 15 s and 60°C for 1 min. After amplification, plate reads were performed in the Prism 7000 Sequence Detection System (Applied Biosystems). Genotypes were determined by manual clustering using Prism 7000 SDS software version 1 (Applied Biosystems).

The results of the latex-sensitive case group were compared separately to each control group (A and B) using nominal logistic regression analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Twenty-four of the 432 individuals studied (5.6%) were identified as sensitized to NRL allergens based on a positive latex-specific IgE and a positive clinical history for latex allergy (table 2). All 24 of these subjects were atopic by history. Eight of the 24 had a history of allergy to avocados, bananas, and/or kiwi. Fifteen of the 24 had documented systemic symptoms, i.e. , more than one organ system involvement, associated with occupational latex glove exposure.

Genotypes were determined in all individuals for all polymorphisms assayed, except for one individual in control group A for IL18 −656. The allele frequencies for all polymorphisms studied are shown in table 4. Allele frequencies for polymorphisms in IL4  and IL13  were similar to those reported previously.4,5Polymorphisms IL18 −607 and −656 were in linkage disequilibrium in this population. Allele frequencies for polymorphisms in IL18  varied slightly from those of Kruse et al. ,6who reported frequencies of 28.3, 40.3, 35.7, 27.4, and 25.9% for IL18 −137, −607, −656, +113, and + 127, respectively. The different frequencies may be due to populations sampled (subjects in the Kruse et al.  study were from Southwestern Germany), sample sizes, or both. Genotype distributions for all of the polymorphisms studied fit predictions for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

The latex allergy phenotype was significantly associated with three of the promoter polymorphism when latex allergic cases were compared with the nonatopic control group. We found a significant association with the IL13 −1055 promoter polymorphism (chi-square = 5.83, P = 0.02; table 5), the IL18 −607 promoter polymorphism (chi-square = 5.50, P = 0.02; table 5), and the IL18 −656 promoter polymorphism (chi-square = 5.50, P = 0.02; table 5) in the latex allergic cases compared to the nonatopic controls. The IL18 +113 and the IL18 +127 polymorphisms were only weakly associated, and no association was found with the IL4 −589 promoter polymorphism in the latex allergic cases compared with the nonatopic controls (table 5). Furthermore, when we examined these same promoter polymorphisms in a group of atopic controls, we found no significant associations among any of the polymorphisms in the latex allergic cases compared with the atopic controls (table 6).

We also compared the frequencies of these promoter polymorphisms between the atopic and nonatopic control groups. We found no significant associations among any of the promoter polymorphisms in the atopic controls compared with the nonatopic controls (IL13 − 1055, P = 0.05; IL18 −137, P = 0.53; IL18 −607, P = 0.07; IL18 −656, P = 0.07; IL18 +113, P = 0.46; IL18 +127, P = 0.53; IL4 −589, P = 0.52).

The current findings are the first to associate specific genetic polymorphisms with occupational latex allergy and thus extend our understanding of the induction of latex allergy in healthcare workers exposed to NRL. These results support the hypothesis that functional polymorphisms in IL13  and IL18  are risk factors for the development of latex allergy in occupationally exposed individuals.

The role of genetic background in susceptibility to other allergic diseases has been well documented. Genome scans have identified quantitative trait loci for asthma and asthma subphenotypes, including airways hyperreactivity, serum IgE, eosinophilia, and atopy on 13 chromosomes.15Multiple candidate genes have been investigated in asthma and allergy, including IL4 , IL13 , and IL18 .4–6A strong immunologic rationale for investigation of these genes is provided by studies in mice and humans. Specific IgE production is initiated by T^H2 cells that release IL-4 and IL-13 in response to allergen exposure. Together with signals from the CD40 B-cell surface molecule, the binding of IL-4 and IL-13 to the α chain of the IL-4-receptor activates germline transcription of the epsilon heavy chain gene locus and isotype switching of B-cells to IgE production.16Evidence also exists that IL-18, depending on the specific circumstances, can stimulate T^H1-mediated immune responses (e.g. , interferon-γ production)17or enhance T^H2 cytokine production (IL-4 and IL-13) and IgE production in mice.18However, the potential contributions of these genes in allergy associated with occupational exposures to NRL allergens have not been previously investigated.

The current study tested the hypothesis that functional polymorphisms in IL4 , IL13 , and IL18  are associated with latex-specific IgE antibody production and a clinical history of allergic symptoms following NRL exposure. Significant associations were identified with the latex allergy status of cases and promoter polymorphisms in IL13  (−1055) and IL18  (−607 and −656) when compared with the nonatopic control group.

For our cases, we attempted to use the most conservative definition of a latex allergic individual. Optimally, we would have preferred to skin test all the subjects in the study. However, there is no currently available Food and Drug Administration-approved skin testing material in the United States. Therefore, we used a commercially available serologic test that measured IgE against all 13 known native Hevea brasiliensis  allergens to verify the clinical history. The test is 98% specific.10However, it is only 75% sensitive.10Although we would correctly determine true positives, we would potentially have a significant number of false negatives. Therefore, to improve our ability to differentiate cases and controls, we included symptoms. The addition of symptoms along with a positive serology probably did not significantly increase our true positives. More important, with the removal of all individuals with any symptoms associated with latex glove use from the control groups, we believe that we improved our ability to identify true negatives.

We previously documented that atopy was a major risk factor for development of an allergy to NRL.2In those studies, we identified a number of individuals who were atopic and sensitized to NRL but had no symptoms and a negative serology but a positive skin test.2This potential number of false negatives among the atopic controls may be a factor in our finding of a lack of significant differences between the latex-allergic cases and atopic controls.

Our study found no association of the IL4 −589 polymorphism with general atopy or specific latex allergy. The role of IL4  in atopy has been implied in some linkage and association studies7but has been only weakly associated19or not associated at all4,20in others. For example, Rosenwasser et al.  7found an association of IL4 −589 with increased transcriptional levels of IL-4 and total serum IgE. Conversely, Beghe et al.  20were unable to find association of IL4  (−34, −589) or IL4  receptor polymorphisms with any measure of atopy, including total or specific IgE in a white population in Southampton, England. An explanation for the apparent discrepancies between studies is not clear. However, a more complete understanding of the role of IL4  in atopy will be gained by investigating all of the functional IL4  single-nucleotide polymorphisms individually and by haplotype.19 

It was also interesting that we found no significant statistical differences among any of the promotor polymorphisms between the atopic compared with the nonatopic control groups, although IL13 −1055, IL18 −607, and IL18 −656 all approached statistical significance. It is important to note that this study was not designed to measure associations between atopic and nonatopic controls.

Identification of significant differences between the latex allergic cases and the nonatopic controls and not between the latex allergic cases and atopic controls was not surprising. Atopy is a major risk factor for the development of a latex allergy.2The molecular events that lead to the development of latex allergy are similar to those that lead to the development of food and other life-threatening allergies. Subtle changes in the immune system dictate the difference between an annoying and a catastrophic response. For example, many people are atopic, but only a few have life-threatening latex allergic reactions. To determine the genetic polymorphisms that can differentiate latex allergic from atopic individuals, a much larger study population would likely be needed.

The current findings extend our understanding of the genetic basis for the induction of latex allergy in healthcare workers occupationally exposed to NRL. These results support the hypothesis that genetic background is a risk factor for the development of latex allergy in occupationally exposed individuals, depending on the immunogenic stimulation of the subjects: environmental (food allergy) or occupational (latex).