title: Multilocus analysis of atopy in Korean children using multifactor-dimensionality reduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopy is considered to be a complex genetic trait and does not follow a simple mendelian pattern of inheritance. It is now well recognised that gene-gene interactions are important in complex genetic disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse the influence of gene-gene interactions in the development of atopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2055 ethnically identical participants aged 10-18 years living in rural areas on Jeju Island, Korea, were randomly recruited. Atopy was defined as a positive skin prick test response to one or more common inhalant allergens. Gene-gene interactions among 12 polymorphic loci were analysed in the seven candidate genes of atopy using the multidimensionality-reduction method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant interaction was found between V297I in the gene coding vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (KDR) and -308G-->A in the gene coding tumour necrosis factor (TNF)alpha on the risk of atopy, with a cross-validation consistency of 10 out of 10 and a prediction error of 35.9% (p = 0.001). Conventional logistic regression also revealed significant interactions between KDR and TNF for atopy. Individuals with the variant allele of -308G-->A in TNF (GA or AA) and V297I in KDR (VI or II) had a significantly higher risk of atopy (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.48 to 3.57).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  KDR and TNF may synergistically influence the development of atopy through gene-gene interaction in Korean children and adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University, 28 Yongondong, Chongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Heung-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Eun-Soon
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Jong-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hyouk-Soo
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Eunyoung
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Sun-Sin
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon-Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Yoon-Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Up
authors.initials: KU
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: You-Young
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang-Heon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2