title: Gender-limited association of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) polymorphism with cord blood IgE levels.
abstract: Allergic mechanism has long been attributed to IgE-mediated reaction. The relationship between gene polymorphism and cord blood IgE (CB IgE) is unclear. We investigated whether elevation of CB IgE levels was associated with polymorphisms of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) at (-318) CT and (+49) AG positions in a gender-limited fashion. CB IgE levels were determined by Pharmacia CAP system and the CTLA-4 polymorphisms at (-318) and (+49) were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). A total of 644 consecutive umbilical cord bloods were collected for this study. 32.9% of newborn infants had detectable IgE levels (> or =0.35 kU/l). 25.6% of the male newborns had elevated CB IgE levels (> or =0.5 kU/l) similar to those of the female newborns (22.7%). The CTLA-4 polymorphism at (+49) but not (-318) was significantly associated with elevated CB IgE levels (p = 0.004). The association of CTLA-4 (+49) A allele with elevated CB IgE levels was found only in females. Both male and female infants with different CTLA-4 (-318) genotypes had no difference in the rates of elevated CB IgE levels. A linkage disequilibrium between CTLA-4 (+49) G and (-318) C allele was found in this Chinese population. Subjects with the (+49, GG and -318, CC) genotype had a significantly lower rate of elevated CB IgE levels. Association of the CTLA-4 (+49) polymorphism with elevated CB IgE levels was found only in female infants. Newborn infants with the (+49, GG and -318, CC) genotype tended to have a low rate of elevated CB IgE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jen-Chieh
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chieh-An
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hau
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Chia-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.forename: Te-Yao
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Eng-Yen
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kuender D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000097:blood*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D060908:CTLA-4 Antigen; C556706:CTLA4 protein, human; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007073:Immunoglobulin E