Review Article

“Cumulative Stress”: The Effects of Maternal and Neonatal Oxidative Stress and Oxidative Stress-Inducible Genes on Programming of Atopy

Table 1

Oxidative stress-inducible genes and allergic asthma.

GeneClinical relevanceReferences

Glutathione S-transferases M1 (GSTM1) and P1 (GSTP1)GSTs conjugate endogenous byproducts of OS with glutathione, enabling rapid elimination and thus defending tissues against oxidant damage; common polymorphisms exist in genes coding for various GSTs including glutathione S-transferases M1 (GSTM1) and P1 (GSTP1)[19]

Antioxidant defence enzymes (ADE)
Glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLM)
Glutathione peroxidase (GPX1)
Myeloperoxidase (MPO)
NADPH oxidase (CYBA, p22phox subunit)
NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase type 1 (NQO1)
Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (EPHX1)
Glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLM)
They are associated with allergic and nonallergic asthma, inducing increased oxidative stress status[11, 20, 21]

Tumor necrosis factor G-308AIt may have a protective role in asthma pathogenesis, depending on airway oxidative stress levels[22]

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)
ORM1-like 3 (ORMDL3)
Gasdermin A and B (GSDM)
In addition to foetal smoke exposure, it seems to be associated with lower airway responsiveness, lung function, and increased risk of transient wheezing, a phenotype of childhood asthma[23]
[24]
[25]

Antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase (PON1) It is inversely correlated to plasma total oxidant status and to severity of asthma[26]

Nuclear factor (NF), erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) It has been found to be a critical regulator in protecting cells and tissues under highly oxidative microenvironments, including airways that interface with the external environment and are exposed to pollutants and other oxidant stressors[27]

Toll-like receptor 4 (Tlr4) It is associated with O3-induced lung inflammation and increased airway hyperpermeability[28]

Heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1)In addition to ozone exposure, it is responsible for the onset of allergic asthma[29]

Transforming growth factor- (TGF-) beta1 C-509T polymorphismThis genotype is associated with an increased risk of asthma in addition to maternal smoking exposure in the uterus or to traffic-related emissions[30]

Arginases (ARG1 and ARG2) It may play an important role in asthma pathogenesis through effects on nitrosative stress[31]