The polymorphisms of miR-146a SNPs are associated with asthma in Southern Chinese Han population.

• A positive association between rs2910164 C/G genotype and asthmatic risk in female. • Male asthmatic patients of rs57095329 were responsible for the clinical features. • The rs2910164 and rs57095329 influence mature miR-146a expression. • The SNPs mutations disrupted the normal structure and stability of miR-146a. Asthma, a prevalent disease characterized by innate and adaptive immune responses, has been associated with several risk factors including miR-146a. To better understand the potential impact of miR-146a SNPs on asthma susceptibility and clinical features in Southern Chinese Han population, we conducted a case-control to analyze two functional SNPs (rs2910164 and rs57095329) of the miR-146a (394 patients with asthma and 395 healthy controls). Our findings suggest that the rs2910164 C/G genotype may increase the risk for asthma in females, while the rs57095329 G/G genotype may be involved in the regulation of clinical characteristics of males with asthma. In addition, we demonstrated that the SNPs rs2910164 C/G and rs57095329 A/G variations functionally affected the miR-146a levels in patients with asthma, and may alter structure of miR-146a. Our data are the first to suggest that miR-146a SNPs may be significantly associated with onset asthma in Southern Chinese Han population. Our studies may provide new insight into the potential significance of miR-146a SNPs in asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]