Variation in ITGB3 is associated with asthma and sensitization to mold allergen in four populations.
BACKGROUND
Recent genetic studies have implicated integrins in asthma and atopy susceptibility. We therefore evaluated the integrin-beta3 gene (ITGB3), an integrin gene within an asthma linkage peak on chromosome 17, as a candidate for susceptibility to asthma- and atopy-related phenotypes.


METHODS
We genotyped and performed association tests on 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms in ITGB3 in the Hutterites, a founder population, and in three outbred replication populations.


RESULTS
Variation in ITGB3 was strongly associated with susceptibility to bronchial hyperresponsiveness and protection from allergic sensitization to mold allergens in this population. Three independent case-control populations representing Caucasians and African Americans were used to replicate this finding, also revealing ITGB3 alleles that are associated with asthma susceptibility and protection from mold allergen sensitization.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that ITGB3 plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma and sensitization to mold allergens.
Weiss
Lauren A
LA
Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, 920 East 58th Street, CSLC 507C, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
Lester
Lucille A
LA
Gern
James E
JE
Wolf
Raoul L
RL
Parry
Rodney
R
Lemanske
Robert F
RF
Solway
Julian
J
Ober
Carole
C
D001741:Black or African American / Q000235:genetics; D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002886:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D039661:Integrin beta3 / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D000485:Allergens; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; C061248:ITGB3 protein, human; D039661:Integrin beta3