GENETIC-POLYMORPHISM OF THE BETA-2-ADRENERGIC RECEPTOR IN ATOPIC AND NONATOPIC SUBJECTS

To investigate a possible genetic basis for reported differences in be ta-2 receptor expression in atopic subjects, DNA from 42 atopic childr en (22 asthmatics and 22 with allergic rhinitis) and 30 non-atopic sub jects was Southern blotted and Ban-1 restriction fragment polymorphism s (RFLPS) were studied using a 2.6 kb probe of the human beta-2 recept or gene. Two alleles 3.1 kb and 2.9 kb were identified. Homozygotes an d heterozygotes for the two alleles were found with equal frequency in the atopic patients who had asthma and in those who had allergic rhin itis only. The gene frequencies for the upper and lower alleles were 0 .45 and 0.55 respectively. Our studies do not provide evidence for an association between a particular polymorphic form of the human beta-2 receptor gene and atopy.