title: Lack of association between atopic eczema and the genetic variants of interleukin-4 and the interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain gene: heterogeneity of genetic backgrounds on immunoglobulin E production in atopic eczema patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genetic background of atopic eczema might be heterogeneous and there is a possibility that immunoglobulin (Ig)E responsiveness in patients with atopic eczema is controlled separately from the development of atopic eczema. Although both interleukin (IL)-4 and the IL-4 receptor alpha chain have an important role for IgE production and are therefore possible candidate 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 patients, particularly in patients who have normal IgE productivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  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, Ala375Glu and Arg551Gln 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 significantly associated with either total patients with atopic eczema or atopic eczema 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 eczema.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the polymorphisms in the IL-4 gene and the IL-4 receptor alpha chain gene play no role in the development of atopic eczema in patients who have normal IgE productivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Otsu, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sugiura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E