title: A European study on the genetics of mite sensitization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sensitization to mite allergens represents a prominent feature of atopy and an important predictor of bronchial asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  It was the intention of this study to define genetic loci linked to mite sensitization because these could represent the genetic basis of the important atopic component of asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied a multiethnic white population of 99 families, including 224 sib pairs sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. A genome-wide candidate-region search was performed that covered potential asthma and atopy regions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As for nonparametric linkage (NPL) analysis, 14 of the candidate regions showed evidence for linkage (NPL > 2.0), and 4 of them showed prominent linkage (NPL > 3.0). However, there were substantial ethnic differences. Maximizing the LOD score analysis identified candidate regions with suspected dominant and recessive mode of inheritance. Furthermore, genetic imprinting models provided significant evidence for linkage in the 8p23 region and revealed potential maternal imprinting. The regions found are distinct to those in asthma searches that have been found to be linked to asthma, as well to other inflammatory diseases. In addition, we could not find linkage to the HLA region. By different cutoff points of the phenotype definition, the IL cluster showed evidence of being linked to the degree of sensitization rather than to sensitization per se.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the genetic basis of the atopic component of asthma is different from that of the inflammatory component. Furthermore, it seems reasonable to assume that specific sensitizations are influenced by distinct genetic variants leading to their initiation versus those leading to their enhancement.
authors.affiliation: University Children's Hospital, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Strauch
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heinzmann
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rüschendorf
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Cookson
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Inacio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruffilli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nordskov-Hansen
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peltre
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Forster
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kuehr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Wienker
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Deichmann
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D002648:Child; D005060:Europe; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D018392:Genomic Imprinting; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D008957:Models, Genetic
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E