Childhood atopic asthma: Positive association with a polymorphism of IL-4 receptor a gene but not with that of IL-4 promoter or Fc epsilon receptor Ibeta gene

We examined the relative contributions of three representative candidate ge nes for atopy (Fc epsilon receptor I beta, IL-4, and IL-4 receptor alpha) t o the development of atopic asthma. Four polymorphisms of the three candida te genes including Ile50Val and Gln551Arg of IL-4 receptor alpha, -590C/T o f IL-4 promoter and Glu237Gly of (Fc epsilon receptor I beta were studied i n 100 patients with atopic asthma and 100 nonatopic controls in the norther n Kyushu area in Japan. Among the four polymorphisms of the three candidate genes, the Ile50 allele of the IL-4 receptor alpha chain gene demonstrated an association with atopic asthma subjects (p = 0.044), especially in pati ents with onset at 2 years of age or earlier (p = 0.034) and in patients wi th moderate to severe atopic asthma (p = 0.031). Gln551Arg of IL-4 receptor a, -590C/T of IL-4 promoter and Glu237Gly of Fc epsilon receptor I beta sh owed no association with atopic asthma. A slight linkage disequilibrium bet ween Ile50Val and Gln551Arg polymorphisms of the IL-4 receptor alpha chain gene was observed in both patients and nonatopic controls. The identificati on of additional atopy genes in areas with a certain genetic background is essential for genetic diagnosis and to establish new therapeutic modalities for atopic asthma. Copyright (C) 2000 S.Karger AG, Basel.