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1: Nat Genet. 1994 Jun;7(2):125-9.Click here to read Links
Comment in:
Nat Genet. 1995 Jul;10(3):260.

Association between atopy and variants of the beta subunit of the high-affinity immunoglobulin E receptor.

Shirakawa T, Li A, Dubowitz M, Dekker JW, Shaw AE, Faux JA, Ra C, Cookson WO, Hopkin JM.

Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.

The beta-subunit of the high-affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI-beta) on chromosome 11 is maternally linked to atopy, the state of enhanced IgE responsiveness underlying allergic asthma and rhinitis. We have identified a common variant of Fc epsilon RI-beta, lle181Leu within the 4th transmembrane domain. Leu181 shows significant association with positive IgE responses in a random patient sample. Amongst 60 unrelated nuclear families with allergic asthmatic probands, Leu181 is identified in 10 (17%), is maternally inherited in each, and shows a strong association with atopy. Our data indicate that Fc epsilon RI-beta, subject to maternal modification, may be the atopy-causing locus on chromosome 11q.

PMID: 7920628 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]