Researchers are working hard to identify the causes of sarcoidosis, but the answer is still unclear. They have found evidence suggesting that certain genetic and environmental factors may be involved. However, because many factors can interact, it is difficult to determine which ones truly have an effect. Many researchers believe that smoking is somehow connected with sarcoidosis, although there is disagreement about whether smoking is positively or negatively associated with the development of the disease. Several studies have been conducted, and they have produced different results.

A recent study published in Scientific Reports attempted to remove some of the variables that may have influenced the data in earlier studies, allowing researchers to examine more closely how smoking affects the development of sarcoidosis. To do this, the researchers included genetic information from all participants and conducted a population-based case-control study using a gene–environment interaction approach.

Što je pristup interakcije gena i okoline?

Kako bi otkrili imaju li svaki određeni gen i određeni čimbenik okoliša neovisno djelovanje na razvoj bolesti, znanstvenici moraju pojedinačno promatrati interakciju tih čimbenika. Najbolji način za to je promatranje održavaju li ti čimbenici iste učinke kada su oba pod utjecajem trećeg čimbenika. Ako ne, onda znanstvenici mogu pretpostaviti da ti čimbenici u određenoj mjeri utječu jedni na druge. U ovoj studiji, istraživači su pokušali otkriti kako pušenje utječe na pacijente sa sarkoidozom odvojeno promatrajući učinke pušenja na pacijente sa i bez Lofgrenovog sindroma, kao i na pacijente koji imaju i ne pokazuju alel HLA-DRB1*03, koji je vjeruje se da imaju poseban značajan utjecaj na razvoj sarkoidoze.