title: Association of STAT6 genetic variants with childhood atopic dermatitis in Taiwanese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the single most common allergic disease in children. STAT6 has been noted as a hub molecule in IL-4 mediated response and AD pathogenesis. However, the association between STAT6 genetic variants and childhood AD has never been thoroughly examined.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigate the association between STAT6 genetic variants and childhood AD risk in Taiwanese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the Han Chinese in Beijing genome panel of International HapMap Project and the Taiwan Children Health Study cohort to investigate the association of STAT6 genetic variants and childhood AD risks. Four tagged SNPs were selected from HapMap database and rs324011 was most significantly associated with childhood AD. Subsequently, deep sequencing around rs324011 and unconditional/conditional logistic models were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  rs324011 showed statistical significance for the occurrence of childhood AD (OR: 1.23; 95% CI: 1.01-1.51) and rs167769 showed borderline statistical significance (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 0.99-1.49). Likelihood ratio tests revealed that haplotypes (rs167769/rs324011) were associated with childhood AD (global p=0.0018). T alleles of two STAT6 intron2 SNPs, rs324011 and rs167769, increased STAT6 promoter activity significantly in luciferase reporter assay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  T allele of rs324011 in STAT6 would increase the risk of AD occurrence in children. Haplotypes of rs324011/rs167769 were also significantly associated with childhood AD in Taiwanese population.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: leolee@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Yungling Leo
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jeffrey Jong-Young
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Chung
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Nai-Wei
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Kuo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Wei
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Fong
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Dermatology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Hsiao
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Health Risk Management, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Jen
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Fu-Tong
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; C494101:STAT6 protein, human
keywords: Atopic dermatitis; Childhood; Genetic variant; STAT6; Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6