Interleukin-4 receptor alpha gene variants and allergic disease.
The interleukin-4 (IL-4) signalling cascade has been identified as a pathway potentially important in the development of asthma. Genetic variants within this signalling pathway might contribute to the risk of developing asthma in a given individual. A number of polymorphisms have been described within the IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Ralpha) gene. In addition polymorphism occurs in the promoter for the IL-4 gene itself. This commentary accompanies a paper by C Ober et al describing the contribution of IL-4Ralpha polymorphism to susceptibility to asthma and atopy in the Hutterite population and other outbred populations collected during the collaborative studies on the genetics of asthma (CSGA) programme.
Hall
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IP
Division of Therapeutics, University Hospital of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. ian.hall@nottingham.ac.uk
D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*
D020033:Protein Isoforms; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4