title: Protocadherin-1 polymorphisms are associated with eczema in two Dutch birth cohorts.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eczema and asthma share a common genetic background and show linkage to chromosome 5q31-33. Protocadherin-1 (PCDH1) is located in this region and was identified as a susceptibility gene for bronchial hyper-responsiveness (BHR), a hallmark of asthma. PCDH1 encodes an adhesion molecule, expressed in airway and skin epithelium. We determined whether PCDH1 polymorphisms, previously associated with asthma or BHR, also associated with questionnaire and UK Working Party (UKWP) defined eczema.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four PCDH1 polymorphisms were genotyped in two Dutch birth cohorts, PIAMA (n = 967) and KOALA Birth Cohort Study (n = 1560). Association with eczema was determined by chi-square tests and generalized estimating equations (GEE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Insertion deletion IVS3-116 was associated with development of UKWP eczema in PIAMA [age 4, OR = 1.90 (1.14-3.18)] and borderline with questionnaire-reported eczema in PIAMA [GEE, OR = 1.33 (0.98-1.81)]. Furthermore, IVS3-116 was associated with questionnaire-reported eczema in KOALA [age 1, OR = 1.44 (1.00-2.07)]. Pooled analysis of questionnaire-reported eczema of both cohorts resulted in a significant association of IVS3-116 with eczema [OR = 1.26 (1.01-1.58)]. Rs3822357 (A-allele) associated with protection for eczema in PIAMA only [questionnaires, OR = 0.19 (0.06-0.63)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCDH1 gene variant IVS3-116 associates with eczema in two independent birth cohorts. Combined with previous observations, this indicates a shared genetic susceptibility to BHR, asthma and eczema.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology and Pediatric Allergology, Beatrix Children's Hospital, GRIAC research institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Henk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koning
authors.forename: Dirkje S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Postma
authors.forename: Bert
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brunekreef
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Duiverman
authors.forename: Henriette A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Smit
authors.forename: Carel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thijs
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Penders
authors.forename: Marjan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kerkhof
authors.forename: Gerard H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Koppelman
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004485:Eczema / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D000091363:Protocadherins
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; C081683:PCDH1 protein, human; D000091363:Protocadherins