Investigation of HIF1A gene polymorphisms in patients with allergic rhinitis

Aim: Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a chronic inflammatory disease caused by IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to environmental allergens. In Türkiye, AR prevalence ranges between 11.8% and 36.4%. The Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha (HIF1A) gene plays a significant role in hypoxia and inflammation-related pathways, and its polymorphisms have been associated with various inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to investigate the association of C1772T and C111A polymorphisms in the HIF1A gene with AR. Material and Methods: The study included 100 AR patients and 100 healthy controls. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analyses were performed using PCR-RFLP and validated by Sanger sequencing. Serum total IgE levels were measured, and patients were classified based on disease severity and duration. Genotype findings were compared with patients' clinical features. Results: The C111A SNP was non-polymorphic in both groups, as all individuals had the wild-type CC genotype. The C1772T SNP showed no significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies between patients and controls. Similarly, no significant associations were observed in patient subgroups stratified by disease severity, frequency, or serum IgE levels. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that these two polymorphisms in the HIF1A gene are not associated with AR development in the Turkish population. However, the literature indicates that HIF1A mRNA and protein levels affect AR. Results may vary due to genetic and environmental factors. Further studies investigating alternative polymorphisms in the HIF1A gene and its expression levels are needed to better understand the relationship between AR and HIF1A.