title: Cutting edge: polymorphisms in the ICOS promoter region are associated with allergic sensitization and Th2 cytokine production.
abstract: The establishment of ICOS as an important regulator of Th2 development and effector function makes the ICOS locus an attractive candidate for Th2-mediated diseases, such as asthma and allergy. In evaluation of this candidate locus in humans, we identified 11 variants and determined that two in the putative promoter region are significantly associated with allergic sensitization and serum IgE levels. In addition, cultures of activated PBMCs from individuals homozygous for the associated polymorphisms produced increased levels of the Th2 cytokines, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, as well as TNF-alpha compared with controls. One of the polymorphisms, -1413G/A, demonstrated differential NF-kappaB binding in mobility shift analysis, suggesting that this polymorphism has functional consequences. Overall, these data demonstrate that ICOS is a susceptibility gene for allergic sensitization, perhaps through the promotion of Th2 differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Rebecca A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Shilling
authors.forename: Jayant M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Donna C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Daniel H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Hozefa S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Bandukwala
authors.forename: Jeffrey R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Camoretti-Mercado
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ober
authors.forename: Anne I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sperling
mesh_terms: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics; D000483:Alleles; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000235:genetics*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000276:immunology; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000276:immunology; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D016207:Cytokines; C556692:ICOS protein, human; D060889:Inducible T-Cell Co-Stimulator Protein; D007073:Immunoglobulin E