Associations between genetic ancestry and serum Immunoglobulin E trajectory, allergen- specific IgE sensitization, and asthma at 10 years among Black children in the WHEALS birth cohort
Recommended Citation
Finkel K, Lin C, Sitarik A, Kim H, Eapen A, Baptist A, Levin A, Cassidy-Bushrow A, Johnson C, Zoratti E. Associations between genetic ancestry and serum Immunoglobulin E trajectory, allergen- specific IgE sensitization, and asthma at 10 years among Black children in the WHEALS birth cohort. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2025; 155(2):AB269.
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2-1-2025
Publication Title
J Allergy Clin Immunol
Keywords
Allergy, Immunology
Abstract
Rationale: Increased serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and higher prevalence of atopy and asthma have been reported among Black compared to White children. However, race is a social construct influenced by characteristics such as appearance, genetic ancestry, culture, language, and religion. We sought to assess whether genetic ancestry among Black children is associated with total IgE trajectory, allergen sensitization, and asthma. Methods: Prospectively collected data from the southeast Michigan Wayne County Health, Environment, Allergy, and Asthma Longitudinal Study (WHEALS) birth cohort was analyzed. Black, non-Hispanic/non-Arabic children (n=345, 53.3% male) were identified by maternal report. Genome-wide continental African and European ancestry percentages were estimated. Percent African ancestries (PAA) was fit to the trajectory of total IgE measured at birth, 6 months, 1, 2, and 10 years; allergen-specific sensitization (sIgE) to 10 allergens and asthma were evaluated at age 10. Poisson regression was used for binary outcomes, while linear regression was used for continuous variables with adjustment for confounders. Results: No association was identified between PAA and total IgE (p=0.11). One hundred thirty-four subjects (38.8%) were sensitized to one or more allergens and 58 (16.8%) had asthma. Each 10-percentage point increase in PAA was associated with 30% higher risk of allergen sensitization (RR 1.30, 95% CI (1.04, 1.63); p=0.019), and each 10-percentage point increase in PAA was associated with a 68% increase in the risk of asthma (RR 1.68, 95% CI (1.16, 2.45); p=0.007). Conclusions: Among Black children, the proportion of African ancestries was associated with the risk of sIgE sensitization and asthma at 10 years.
Volume
155
Issue
2
First Page
AB269
