Abstract
BackgroundImmunoglobulin E (IgE) is a central player in the allergic response, and raised total IgE levels are considered as an indicator of atopy or potential development of atopy. A recent genome-wide scan in a German population-based cohort of adults identified the gene encoding the alpha chain of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FCER1A) as a susceptibility locus influencing total serum IgE levels. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the polymorphisms in the FCER1A gene are associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) in a Han Chinese population.Methodology/Principal FindingsA population of 378 patients with AR and 288 healthy controls was studied. Precise phenotyping of patients was accomplished by means of a questionnaire and clinical examination. Blood was drawn for DNA extraction and total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) measurement. A total of 16 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FCER1A were selected and individually genotyped. None of the SNPs in the FCER1A showed an association with AR. Similarly, the lack of association was also evident in subgroup analysis for the presence of different allergen sensitivities. None of the selected SNPs in FCER1A was associated with total IgE level.ConclusionsAlthough FCER1A presents itself as a good candidate for contributing to total serum IgE, this study failed to find an association between SNPs in the FCER1A gene region and IgE level or AR susceptibility.
Highlights
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa induced by an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reaction in allergen-sensitized subjects
FCER1A presents itself as a good candidate for contributing to total serum IgE, this study failed to find an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FCER1A gene region and IgE level or allergic rhinitis (AR) susceptibility
The cohort of 378 AR patients had a mean age of 27 years and consisted of more men (60.1%) than women (39.9%), while the 288 control individuals had a mean age of 37 years, with a similar component of more men (56.1%) than women (43.9%)
Summary
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is an inflammatory disease of the nasal mucosa induced by an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated reaction in allergen-sensitized subjects. Recent data on self-reported AR in the centre of cities across mainland China demonstrated a prevalence of 8.7%–24.1% [2] This high prevalence translates into a considerable cost to society in terms of overall healthcare use and the quality of life of those with moderate-to-severe disease. A genome-wide scan in a German population-based cohort of adults identified the gene encoding the alpha chain of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FCER1A) on chromosome 1 as a susceptibility locus which was associated with total serum IgE levels [10]. A recent genome-wide scan in a German population-based cohort of adults identified the gene encoding the alpha chain of the high affinity receptor for IgE (FCER1A) as a susceptibility locus influencing total serum IgE levels. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the polymorphisms in the FCER1A gene are associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) in a Han Chinese population
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