title: Genetics of occupational asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To discuss gene association studies conducted in workers diagnosed with occupational asthma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Human leukocyte antigen studies conducted in European workers have defined major histocompatibility complex class II alleles and haplotypes associated with diisocyanate asthma. Recently, certain glutathione S-transferase genotypes (e.g. the GSTM1 null genotype) and N-acetyltransferase genotypes associated with slow acetylation phenotypes have been reported to be associated with diisocyanate asthma. Genotype combinations of IL-4 receptor-α and CD14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with diisocyanate asthma, but only in workers exposed to hexamethylene diisocyanate. A recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) conducted in Korea identified several SNPs of the α-T-catenin gene that were significantly associated with diisocyanate asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although candidate gene association studies have yet to identify reliable predictors of occupational asthma, future investigations including GWAS studies may identify high-risk genotypes allowing identification of workers at risk.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology, Allergy and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. bernstdd@ucmail.uc.edu
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Bernstein
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D017953:Isocyanates