Lack of association between atopic eczema and the genetic variants of interleukin-4 and the interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain gene: heterogeneity ofgenetic backgrounds on immunoglobulin E production in atopic eczema patients

Background The genetic background of atopic eczema might be heterogeneous a nd there is a possibility that immunoglobulin (Ig)E responsiveness in patie nts with atopic eczema is controlled separately from the development of ato pic eczema. Although both interleukin (IL)-4 and the IL-4 receptor alpha ch ain have an important role for IgE production and are therefore possible ca ndidate genes for atopy, it has not been clarified whether these genes play any roles in atopic eczema patients who have normal IgE productivity. Objective We aimed to assess whether the polymorphisms of the IL-4 gene and the IL-4 receptor alpha chain gene play any roles in atopic eczema patient s, particularly in patients who have normal IgE productivity. Method We determined the genotype with regard to polymorphisms in the genes for IL-4 and the IL-4 receptor alpha chain (- 589C/T of IL-4; Ile50Val, Al a375Glu and Arg551Glu of IL-4 receptor alpha chain) in patients with atopic eczema using the fluorogenic 5' nuclease assay. Results IL-4 and the IL-4 receptor alpha chain genotypes were not significa ntly associated with either total patients with atopic eczema or atopic ecz ema patients who had normal IgE productivity. The distribution of genotypes of IL-4-589C/T differed by the serum IgE levels in patients with atopic ec zema Conclusion These results suggest that the polymorphisms in the IL-4 gene an d the IL-4 receptor alpha chain gene play no role in the development of ato pic eczema in patients who have normal IgE productivity.