title: Association analysis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene polymorphisms in asthmatic families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A role for neuronal modulation of inflammation and airway hyper-responsiveness has been well described in asthma, and neurotrophins provide the link between inflammation and neuronal dysfunction. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important mediator in this interaction. The aim of this study was to analyze the possible relationship between polymorphisms of the gene encoding BDNF and susceptibility to asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  341 families with at least 2 siblings with asthma were genotyped for 4 BDNF polymorphisms (rs6265, rs2030324, rs988748 and rs7124442).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis by family-based association tests revealed no significant association between any polymorphisms analyzed and asthma susceptibility. Furthermore, BDNF polymorphism was not associated with asthma-related phenotypes such as FEV(1) % predicted, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, IgE level, asthma and atopy severity scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that genetic variation in the BDNF gene does not contribute significantly to asthma susceptibility or severity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Third Department of Pediatrics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, PL-60-572 Poznan, Poland. alszczep@amp.edu.pl
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szczepankiewicz
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rose-Zerilli
authors.forename: Sheila J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Holgate
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Holloway
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D007073:Immunoglobulin E