Identifying Shared Genetic Susceptibility Regions in Chronic Beryllium Disease and Sarcoidosis

CBD and sarcoidosis are granulomatous lung diseases that are caused by an abnormal immune response. While CBD is known to develop from exposure to the industrial product beryllium, the cause of sarcoidosis remains undetermined. CBD occurs in 2 to 16% of people exposed to beryllium and varies in severity of symptoms. People with sarcoidosis often show very minor symptoms. However, certain variables have been associated with the more severe forms of disease. These variables include black race, onset over the age of 40, involvement of more than three affected organs, and presence of more serious lung disease. When serious symptoms of sarcoidosis occur, clinical and pathological appearances of CBD and sarcoidosis are often hard to distinguish. Symptoms common to both diseases include fever, chest pain, weight loss, night sweats, fatigue, and presence of granulomas on the lungs. The fact that the severity of both diseases varies greatly among those affected points to possible genetic involvement. The genetic basis being analyzed in this study begins with the similar immune responses in the development of both diseases, specifically involving human leukocyte antigen (HLA) gene products. The purpose of this study is to identify common genetic regions associated with increased risk of developing the granulomatous diseases CBD and sarcoidosis.

This study will utilize a novel technique, known as a genome-wide scan. The study will examine previously collected DNA samples from participants in a previous NIH study, A Case Control Etiologic Study of Sarcoidosis (ACCESS), and from participants with CBD recruited at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center. Using the genome scans, researchers will compare genetic regions of people with CBD versus people without CBD who have been exposed to beryllium. The same approach will be used to define genetic regions associated with sarcoidosis. Genome control methods will be used to account for population stratification in both the CBD and sarcoidosis populations. Researchers will compare data between diseased and healthy control groups and between CBD and sarcoidosis groups to identify shared genetic regions relevant to disease development. A second genome scan involving two larger populations of CBD and sarcoidosis cases and controls will be conducted to confirm the association of these regions with both diseases.