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PTGER4

The Role of Prostaglandins in Allergic Inflammation (PTGER4)

Written by Jasmine Foster, BSc, BEd on October 23rd, 2020

PTGER4 encodes prostaglandin E2 receptor 4, which promotes inflammation and inflammatory pain. What is its role in allergies? Read on to find out.

Summary

PTGER4 encodes prostaglandin E receptor 4. Variants of PTGER4 may play a role in allergies by increasing both inflammation and inflammatory pain. Lifestyle, diet, and supplement modifications may counteract the effects of these variants by decreasing PTGER4 expression or by reducing prostaglandin E2 production.

PTGER4 and Allergies

The PTGER4 gene encodes prostaglandin E receptor 4, one of the receptors for the prostaglandin class of compounds. Prostaglandins are hormone-like substances that help trigger an acute immune reaction and inflammation [R, R].

Prostaglandins can be divided into a number of families. PTGER4 is specifically a receptor for prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), a member of the prostaglandin E family [R].

PGE2 is typically released in inflamed tissues and helps send pain sensitivity signals through the PTGER4 receptor. Thus, PGE2 contributes to the pain that we feel during an inflammatory reaction [R, R].

The PTGER4 gene hasn’t just been associated with inflammatory pain, however. Variants in this gene have been directly associated with autoimmune disease and allergic asthma, for example [R].

In one study, mice without the PTGER4 receptor were much less likely to develop skin allergies. The researchers concluded that the binding of PGE2 to the PTGER4 receptor promotes the immune response in the skin [R].

However, in a study of 8 subjects with asthma, inhaling PGE2 decreased the response to allergens. PGE2 also protected against allergic lung inflammation in mice [R, R].

PGE2 appears to have both pro- and anti-inflammatory functions. However, PTGER4 seems to mainly trigger an inflammatory response, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory functions of PGE2 might take place through a different receptor [R].

People with PTGER4 variants that increase the activity of this receptor could therefore be more likely to develop allergic inflammation; however, this specific relationship has not yet been studied.

The PTGER4 gene encodes a receptor for prostaglandin E2. When PGE2 binds to this receptor, it may increase sensitivity to allergens and pain due to inflammation.

Your PTGER4 Results for Allergies

SNP Table

variant	genotype	frequency	risk allele
rs7720838
rs7725052

PTGER4 rs7720838

‘G’ = Not associated with allergic inflammation
‘T’ = Associated with allergic inflammation
The ‘T’ allele may increase sensitivity to allergens and pain from inflammation [R, R].

PTGER4 rs7725052

‘C’ = Not associated with allergic inflammation
‘T’ = Associated with allergic inflammation
The ‘T’ allele may increase sensitivity to allergens and pain from inflammation [R, R].

Recommendations

Sunlight & Vitamin D

Researchers suspect that there could be an important interaction between vitamin D and the prostaglandin pathway. Intriguingly, the vitamin D receptor (VDR) may bind to a region of DNA that regulates PTGER4 expression. This relationship is of particular interest to researchers studying multiple sclerosis, a degenerative autoimmune disease, but it could also help explain why sunlight and vitamin D improve allergies [R].

Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with asthma and allergies in children [R, R].

In people with allergic rhinitis and vitamin D deficiency, supplementation improved allergy symptoms. This improvement was not significant until after 4 weeks of supplementation, suggesting that symptom improvement might not occur until vitamin D has been adequately replenished [R].

Healthy exposure to sunlight is the best way of increasing your blood vitamin D levels. In addition, you can eat food sources of this vitamin (such as fatty fish, liver, egg yolks, and dairy) or take supplements [R]

The vitamin D receptor may directly affect PTGER4 expression, and vitamin D deficiency is common in children with asthma and allergies.

Stinging Nettle

COX-2 inhibitors block the production of prostaglandins and broadly reduce inflammation that way. One such COX-2 inhibitor is stinging nettle, an extract of which reduced COX-2 activity in a cell study [R].

Both freeze-dried stinging nettle leaves and root extract improved the severity of allergic rhinitis in 2 clinical trials [R, R].

Scientists believe that stinging nettle helps with allergies through its ability to reduce inflammatory markers and histamine production by mast cells [R, R].

However, stinging nettle (especially the leaves and hairs) contains histamine and some people may experience an allergic reaction to raw puréed nettle or nettle juice [R].

Stinging nettle extract inhibits the COX-2 enzyme, which produces prostaglandins. Nettle supplements have also improved allergy symptoms in clinical studies.

Jasmine Foster

BSc, BEd

Jasmine received her BS from McGill University and her BEd from Vancouver Island University.

Jasmine loves helping people understand their brains and bodies, a passion that grew out of her dual background in biology and education. From the chem lab to the classroom, everyone has the right to learn and make informed decisions about their health.

Disclaimer

The information on this website has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other official medical body. This information is presented for educational purposes only, and may not be used to diagnose or treat any illness or disease.

Also keep in mind that the “Risk Score” presented in this post is based only on a select number of SNPs, and therefore only represents a small portion of your total risk as an individual. Furthermore, these analyses are based primarily on associational studies, which do not necessarily imply causation. Finally, many other (non-genetic) factors can also play a significant role in the development of a disease or health condition — therefore, carrying any of the risk-associated genotypes discussed in this post does not necessarily mean you are at increased risk of developing a major health condition.

Always consult your doctor before acting on any information or recommendations discussed in this post — especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have been officially diagnosed with a medical condition.

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The Role of Prostaglandins in Allergic Inflammation (PTGER4)

Summary

PTGER4 and Allergies

Your PTGER4 Results for Allergies

SNP Table

Recommendations

Sunlight & Vitamin D

Stinging Nettle

Disclaimer

More inflammation & autoimmunity blogs

More allergies blogs

Content

Unlock Personalized Results And So Much More!

Essential Bundle

Essential

Bundle

Ultimate Bundle

Limited Time Offer 25% Off

Individual DNA Reports

Methylation Pathway - MTHFR Test

Histamine Intolerance DNA Pathway Report

Gut Health, Digestion & IBS DNA Report

Autoimmune Disease Risk & Prevention DNA Report

See all reports

Policies

About

Navigation

Health reports