[Association of Q576R polymorphism in the interleukin-4 receptor gene with serum IgE levels in children with asthma].
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin-4 plays a key role in the development of asthma. Overseas studies have shown that Q576R polymorphism in the interleukin-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene is related to asthma as well as increased serum IgE levels. This study was designed to investigate the association of Q576R polymorphism in IL-4R gene with childhood asthma and serum IgE levels.


METHODS
The polymorphism of IL-4R Q576R was determined by PCR/RFLP and serum total IgE level was measured using ELISA in 94 children with asthma. Sixty-eight healthy children served as controls.


RESULTS
The distribution frequency of heterozygous genotype Q576R (41%) and mutant allele R576 (26%) was significantly higher in children with asthma than that of controls (16% each) (P < 0.01; P < 0.05). The total serum IgE level between patients with genotype Q576R and Q576Q was not significantly different (225.78 +/- 51.43 IU/mL vs 163.24 +/- 31.32 IU/mL, P> 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The mutant R576 allele of IL-4R may be one of the candidate genes for susceptibility to asthma. Allele R576 of IL-4R is related to asthma but is irrelevant to the total serum IgE level in children with asthma.
Zhang
Ai-Min
AM
Department of Pediatrics, People's Hospital of Hunan Province, Changsha 410005, China. Lilly610@sina.com
Li
Hai-Lin
HL
Hao
Ping
P
Chen
Yan-Hua
YH
Li
Ji-Hai
JH
Mo
Ya-Xiong
YX
Dai
Mei
M
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*
D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D007073:Immunoglobulin E