Does genetic regulation of IgE begin in utero? Evidence from T(H)1/T(H)2 gene polymorphisms and cord blood total IgE.
BACKGROUND
Elucidation of early life factors is critical to understand the development of allergic diseases, especially those manifesting in early life such as food allergies and atopic dermatitis. Cord blood IgE (CBIgE) is a recognized risk factor for the subsequent development of allergic diseases. In contrast with numerous genetic studies of total serum IgE in children and adults, limited genetic studies on CBIgE have been conducted.


OBJECTIVE
To test the associations between functional or tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes involved in the T(H)1/T(H)2 pathway and CBIgE in a large US inner-city birth cohort.


METHODS
CBIgE, measured by Phadia ImmnunoCAP, was analyzed as a continuous and a binary variable. The association of each SNP with the 2 outcomes was tested using tobit and logistic regression models, respectively, with adjustment for pertinent covariates, ancestral proportion, and multiple testing. Ethnic heterogeneity and gene-gene interactions were also explored.


RESULTS
Three SNPs (rs1800925, rs2069743, and rs1295686) in the IL13 gene were significantly associated with CBIgE concentration (P ≤ 6 × 10(-4), FDR-corrected P < .05). These SNPs jointly influenced CBIgE in a dose-response manner (P for trend = 9 × 10(-8)). Significant associations also were observed for SNPs in the IL-13 receptor α1 (rs5956080) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (rs11172106) genes. Ethnicity-specific genetic effects were observed for SNPs in the IL5 and GATA3 genes. Several gene-gene interactions (including IL13-IL4 receptor and IL13-signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 interactions) were detected in relation to CBIgE.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrated that multiple SNPs were individually and jointly associated with CBIgE, with evidence of gene-gene interactions and ethnic heterogeneity. These findings suggest that genetic regulation of IgE may begin in utero.
Mary Ann and J. Milburn Smith Child Health Research Program, Children's Memorial Hospital and Children's Memorial Research Center, Chicago, Ill 60614-3394, USA.
Xiumei
X
Hong
Hui-Ju
HJ
Tsai
Xin
X
Liu
Lester
L
Arguelles
Rajesh
R
Kumar
Guoying
G
Wang
Nataliya
N
Kuptsova-Clarkson
Colleen
C
Pearson
Kathryn
K
Ortiz
Anthony
A
Bonzagni
Stephanie
S
Apollon
Lingling
L
Fu
Jacqueline A
JA
Pongracic
Robert
R
Schleimer
Patrick G
PG
Holt
Howard
H
Bauchner
Xiaobin
X
Wang
D004843:Epistasis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
D007073:Immunoglobulin E