title: Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and childhood allergic rhinitis in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) play a role in inactivating bradykinin and tachykinins. Bradykinin and tachykinins are potent mediators of inflammatory reaction. An insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene has been shown to be associated with serum ACE levels. We hypothesized that ACE polymorphism might play a role in allergic rhinitis development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy five children aged 6-13 years with atopic allergic rhinitis and 66 age- and gender-matched healthy children were studied. ACE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. Serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and allergen-specific IgE levels were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of the DD and non-DD genotypes, and of the II and non-II genotypes did not differ significantly between healthy children and allergic rhinitis children (chi-squared test, p=1.000 and 0.438, respectively). There was no association of ACE genotype and mean IgE levels in rhinitis children or healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study indicate that polymorphism of the ACE gene is unrelated to the development of allergic rhinitis, the duration of allergic rhinitis, serum IgE levels, and allergen-specific IgE in Taiwanese children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Min-Sho
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Ko-Huang
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Lue
authors.forename: Ching
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hai-Lun
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Ming-Chih
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A