The association between tumor necrosis factor, HLA-DR alleles, and IgE-mediated asthma in Taiwanese adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DR genes and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) gene locus are associated with asthma and IgE production. TNFalpha-308G/A frequencies between Japanese and Caucasians in the UK have been found to be different. The roles of HLA-DRB1 and TNF genotypes are unknown in Taiwanese adolescents with IgE-mediated asthma (I-asthma).


METHODS
From the population of a 1996 nation-wide survey, we recruited a random sample for a physical examination, determination of total serum IgE (sIgE), dust-mite-specific IgE, and HLA-DRB1, TNFalpha-308, and LTalphaNcoI polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
A total of 80 I-asthmatics and 69 non-asthmatics completed the study. We suggested that I-asthmatics had a higher frequency of the DR13 gene (OR = 8.6, 95% CI = [1.6-161]). The DR13 gene was associated with high sIgE and high dust-mite-specific IgE, especially Dermatophagoides farinae. No TNF haplotype or genotype was associated with I-asthma. The DR13 gene was linked to the LTalphaNcoI*1 allele. When sIgE was adjusted by multiple logistic regression, the risk of I-asthma was much higher for the DR13(+)/LTalphaNcoI*1 haplotype (OR = 25.6, 95% CI = [2.2-1378]) than for the others.


CONCLUSIONS
In Taiwanese children sensitized to Der f, the DR13(+)/LTalphaNcoI*1 haplotype was associated with a much higher risk of having clinical asthma than any other DR13/LTalphaNcoI haplotype.
Lin
Ying-Chu
YC
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.
Lu
Cheng-Chan
CC
Su
Huey-Jen
HJ
Shen
Chen-Yang
CY
Lei
Huan-Yao
HY
Guo
Yueliang Leon
YL
D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005838:Genotype; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059810:HLA-DR Serological Subtypes; D015809:HLA-DR7 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D016015:Logistic Models; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059810:HLA-DR Serological Subtypes; C097337:HLA-DR13 antigen; D015809:HLA-DR7 Antigen; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007073:Immunoglobulin E