NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - German and US researchers have identified 14 new polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-4 gene and at least 10 seem to be associated with asthma and elevated IgE levels. However, which of these variants are functionally relevant remains to be determined.
Because it is involved in upregulating IgE, IL4 is thought to play a key role in allergic disease. Thus far, researchers have identified two polymorphisms in the IL4 gene, one of which seems to affect IgE levels and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Until now, however, a complete screening of the gene has not been performed.
In the new study, Dr. Michael Kabesch, from Children’s University Hospital in Munich, and colleagues searched for polymorphisms in the IL4 gene of 33 unrelated subjects who were not selected with regard to the presence or absence of atopic diseases. Association studies were then conducted in 1120 schoolchildren to determine the effect of the various polymorphisms on the phenotypic expression of allergic disease.
The researchers’ findings are reported in the November issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
The authors identified 16 polymorphisms, including 14 that had not been reported before. In addition, “a significant association between a cluster of polymorphisms in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other and a physician’s diagnosis of asthma and total serum IgE levels was found.”
At this point, it is not possible to determine which polymorphisms are causally related to asthma and elevated IgE levels, the investigators point out. “Thus functional studies with all identified polymorphisms might be needed in the future to dissect the individual role of these genetic variations.”
Source: J Allergy Clin Immunol 2003;112:893-898. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Polymorphism, Single NucleotideCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
