N-Acetyltransferase 2 Genotypes Are Associated With Diisocyanate-Induced Asthma

Objective: To investigate whether genetic variants of N-acetyltransferase (NAT) genes are associated with diisocyanate asthma (DA). Methods: The study population consisted of 354 diisocyanate-exposed workers. Genotyping was performed using a 50-nuclease polymerase chain reaction assay. Results: The NAT2 rs2410556 and NAT2 rs4271002 variants were significantly associated with DA in the univariate analysis. In the first logistic regression model comparing DA_ and asymptomatic worker groups, the rs2410556 (P = 0.004) and rs4271002 (P < 0.001) single nucleotide polymorphisms and the genotype combination, NAT2 rs4271002*NAT1 rs11777998, showed associations with DA risk (P - 0.014). In the second model comparing DA+ and DA- groups, NAT2 rs4271002 variant and the combined genotype, NAT1 rs8190845*NAT2 rs13277605, were significantly associated with DA risk (P = 0.022, P = 0.036, respectively). Conclusions: These findings suggest that variations in the NAT2 gene and their interactions contribute to DA susceptibility.