title: Interleukin-13 receptor A1 gene polymorphism and IL-13 serum level in atopic and non-atopic Egyptian children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess serum interleukin (IL) 13 levels in atopic diseases and to determine the role of IL-13R A(1) gene polymorphism (+1398 A/G) in pathogenesis of these diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) E and IL-13 levels were measured by ELISA and the IL-13R A(1) gene (+1398 A/G) was screened by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) in 240 asthmatic children (120 atopic and 120 nonatopic) and 120 allergic rhinitis patients compared with 120 age-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant association was observed between genotype frequencies of the IL-13R A(1) +1398 A/G polymorphism in patients groups compared to in controls. There was a significant increase in serum levels of total IgE & IL-13 towards heterozygous AG and homozygous GG than homozygous AA in atopic asthma, non-atopic asthma and allergic rhinitis groups (P < 0.001 for each). A highly significant increase of serum IL-13 in atopic asthma as compared with controls (P < 0.001) and with nonatopic asthmatics (P < 0.001) was shown.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IL-13R A(1) +1398 A/G polymorphism does not contribute to asthma or allergic rhinitis susceptibility, yet serum IL-13 can be used as a marker in atopic diseases and to differentiate between atopic and non-atopic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Medical Biochemistry Department, Zagazig University, Egypt. yousrihussein@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Yousri M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Shereen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: El-Tarhouny
authors.forename: Sally M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shalaby
authors.forename: Randa H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Tamer H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Hend M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: El-Sherbeny
authors.forename: Noha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mohamed
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000097:blood*; D053661:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018793:Interleukin-13; D053661:Interleukin-13 Receptor alpha1 Subunit; D007073:Immunoglobulin E