title: Polymorphism in the STAT6 gene encodes risk for nut allergy.
abstract: Nut allergy is an important and potentially life threatening food allergy with a prevalence of one in 150 children in the UK population. STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription) is an important molecule in the induction and regulation of an allergic response, which maps to chromosome 12q in a region previously linked with total serum IgE concentration and atopy in different populations. We have examined the frequency of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3'UTR region of STAT6 gene in 71 UK Caucasoid patients diagnosed with nut allergy and 45 atopic patients without nut allergy using PCR-RFLP and compared these with 184 UK healthy controls. The STAT6 G allele frequency was significantly increased in nut allergy patients compared with blood donor controls (P < 0.0001, OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.7-4.9), which was under a recessive model (GG vs GA+AA, P = 0.0001, OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.7-5.8) but not in atopic patients without nut allergy. The G allele was most frequent in the severe cases and GG homozygosity was associated with the increased risk of severe reaction (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.9-8.3). We conclude that STAT6 3'UTR polymorphism is associated with susceptibility and severity in nut allergic patients in our population.
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research, Manchester University Medical School, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, UK.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Amoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hand
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hajeer
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rolf
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sting
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: W E R
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Ollier
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D021184:Nut Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human; D015534:Trans-Activators; D007073:Immunoglobulin E