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PubMed1998

Atopy and allergic disorders among adults in Tartu, Estonia compared with Uppsala, Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies in children and adults indicate that the prevalence of atopy and allergic disorders is lower in previously socialist countries in Eastern Europe compared with countries with a market economy while revealed risk factors are similar. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence of atopy among adults in Tartu, Estonia and to compare the prevalence of risk factors for atopy and allergic respiratory diseases in Estonia and Sweden. METHODS: As a part of cross-sectional study-European Community Respiratory Health Survey-random samples of 20-44 year olds (n = 351 in Tartu and n = 470 in Uppsala) and persons of the same age with asthma like symptoms or on current asthma medication according to a postal questionnaire (n = 95 in Tartu and n = 201 in Uppsala) were interviewed and circulating IgE antibodies were measured. RESULTS: The prevalence of atopy was 19% in Tartu and 32% in Uppsala (P < 0.001). The prevalence of sensitization to pollen was twice lower (11.5 vs 23.2; P<0.001) and the prevalence of pollen associated asthma symptoms was four times lower (1.7 vs 6.8; P<0.001) in Tartu than in Uppsala while sensitization to pollen was an equally large risk factor for asthma in both centres. Age was inversely related to cat and pollen associated symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis in Uppsala (OR 0.6 and 0.7, respectively, P < 0.05) but not in Tartu. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of atopy was lower in Tartu, Estonia than in Uppsala Sweden. Perception of allergic disorders seemed to be lower in Tartu than in Uppsala. Age did not influence the prevalence of atopy nor allergic disorders in Tartu, while in Uppsala age was inversely related to clinical allergy. This could suggest a cohort effect underlying the increasing prevalence of allergy in Western Europe.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Early BCG vaccination and reduction in atopy in Guinea-Bissau.

BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that certain viral and bacterial infections in early childhood may prevent allergic sensitization, by inducing Th1-type immune responses. This has led to speculation that mycobacterial vaccines might, through their Th1-stimulating properties, also protect against atopy. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the prevalence of atopy is lower in children who have been vaccinated with BCG in infancy than in children who have not been vaccinated. METHODS: We measured skin test reactivity to three allergens (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, D. farinae and cockroach) in 400 children, aged 3-14 years, as part of a follow-up study to examine the immune sequelae of measles in an urban area of Bissau, the capital of Guinea-Bissau in west Africa. Information on childhood vaccinations, including BCG in infancy, was available from child records. Of these children, 271 had been vaccinated with BCG (according to records) and 53 had not been vaccinated (no record and no BCG scar). Atopy was defined in two ways, according to the presence of any allergen reaction > or = 2 mm and any reaction > or = 3 mm. RESULTS: Of the children who had received BCG vaccine, 57 (21%) were atopic (any reaction > or = 2 mm), compared with 21 (40%) of the unvaccinated children [odds ratio, after controlling for potential confounding factors, 0.19 (95% CI 0.06-0.59)]. When atopy was defined using the 3-mm criterion, the reduction in atopy associated with BCG was greater the earlier the age at vaccination, and the largest reduction was seen in children vaccinated in the first week of life. CONCLUSION: BCG vaccination given early in infancy may prevent the development of atopy in African children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Atopy patch test--reproducibility and elicitation of itch in different application sites.

We evaluated the reproducibility of atopy patch test reactions and the quality and quantity of itch in 16 patients with atopic eczema and a history of a positive atopy patch test reaction, comparing three different application sites. The allergen was re-applied simultaneously on both forearms and the back. Intensity and quality of pruritus were evaluated using a visual analogue scale and the Eppendorf itch questionnaire, respectively. The atopy patch test reaction was highly reproducible, occurring in 15/16 (94%) patients. Pruritus was reported by 14/16 (88%) patients. There was no significant difference in either the intensity or quality of itch between the two forearms and the back (p>0.05). The mean peak visual analogue scale itch score was comparable across all three test sites (range 28.3-31.9). Regarding quantification of test reactions, a positive reaction was more frequent on the back (94% versus 69% on the arms) and the peak atopy patch test score was higher on the back compared with the arms (right forearm, p=0.0018 and left forearm, p=0.0683). Allergens should preferably be applied on the back for the atopy patch test. However, the atopy patch test can induce atopic itch irrespective of the application site.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Allelic association of gene markers on chromosome 11q in Italian families with atopy.

UNLABELLED: In our study, the genetic linkage of the Fcepsilon RIbeta gene with atopy in 77 affected sibling pairs recruited from an Italian panel of 201 subjects has been examined. Atopy was defined by the presence of a positive skin prick test to one or more common aeroallergens, a positive RAST test to one or more common aeroallergens and an elevated circulating total IgE. Genotype analysis was performed by PCR amplification of Fcepsilon RIbeta CA and CI11-319 CA microsatellites. All the family members were also tested for the Ilepsilon 181 mutation with the ARMS method and for Leu181/Leu183 polymorphism. Seventy-two point five percent (72.5%) of the affected sibling pairs shared their maternal allele and 27.5% did not. Therefore, an increased maternal allele sharing was observed: chi2 = 8.10, p < 0.01. Comparing paternal versus maternal allele sharing, a significant difference was observed for the C1II-319 CA marker (chi2 = 4.32, p < 0.05). Atopy phenotype with positive skin prick test, RASTs, and high total serum IgE also showed greater sharing of maternal than paternal alleles in affected sibling pairs. Of the 201 subjects studied, 17 (8.4%) were positive for Leu181. Ten of these were children and seven (70%) had inherited the variant maternally. The seven children had maternally inherited Leu181/Leu183 and were atopic. Within this sample the maternal inheritance of Fcepsilon RIbeta Leu181/Leu183 was associated with an increased risk of IgE responses to common allergens, raised eosinophil counts and increased skin prick test reactions. Therefore, the variant identified a genetic risk factor for atopy. CONCLUSION: The central role of Fcepsilon RIbeta in atopy and the linkage data presented here point to the possibility that genetic variation in Fcepsilon RIbeta or its controlling element may cause differences in the extent of IgE responses between atopic and non-atopic subjects. A search for such mutations or polymorphisms will need to take into account some carriers of atopy among the normal population and genetic heterogeneity among atopic individuals.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

The role of atopy patch tests in the diagnosis of allergy in atopic dermatitis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Recent literature on the atopy patch test, published since 2004, is reviewed to evaluate whether the pathomechanism of the test has become more evident and whether previous studies require standardization. RECENT FINDINGS: There is evidence accumulating that a smaller subset of patients with atopic dermatitis show only atopy patch test positivity while specific IgE to the same allergen remains negative. It is possible that local IgE-mediated reactions occur in the skin. New data bring us a step forward in understanding the role of the atopy patch test in diagnosis of allergy in atopic dermatitis but no comprehensive studies were published during the period reviewed. SUMMARY: Despite recent advances in determining the value and indication for use of the atopy patch test in atopic dermatitis, more objective studies are needed. The atopy patch test may be useful in understanding the mechanisms of atopic allergy, and in defining the clinical relevance of the airborne allergens in eliciting dermatitis. Regarding food allergy, the atopy patch test still requires standardization. To date, methodology differs in all published papers; even the gold standard, the challenge test itself, is not appropriately standardized, which makes the interpretation of results less reliable.

Bronchial Provocation Tests↗
PubMed2006

The course of eczema in children aged 5-7 years and its relation to atopy: differences between boys and girls.

BACKGROUND: The role of atopy in the pathophysiology of eczema is still under debate. The concept and analyses of the nonatopic and atopic subtypes of eczema have gained increasing interest in recent studies. The course of these subtypes and differences between boys and girls have not been investigated so far. OBJECTIVES: To examine the course of nonatopic and atopic eczema in preschool children from Germany with regard to sex. METHODS: Repeated cross-sectional studies were performed in 5-7-year-old preschool children from Germany between 1994 and 2000. Individuals with eczema were identified by a dermatological examination. In addition to a questionnaire, skin prick tests and analyses of serum IgE antibodies against seven and five environmental allergens, respectively, were performed. Atopy was defined by sensitization to at least one of five common aeroallergens (birch, grass and mugwort pollen, house dust mites, cat dander). In part of the study population investigations of spare time behaviour and skin function were carried out (including stratum corneum hydration and skin surface pH). RESULTS: A total of 2693 girls and 2783 boys underwent a full dermatological examination of the skin and determination of sensitization. Among the girls, 8.7% demonstrated eczema clinically at the day of investigation in contrast to 6.1% of the boys. In girls, early onset eczema (< 2 years of age) was strongly related to atopy at age 5-7 years [odds ratio (OR) 3.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.7-5.1], whereas late-onset eczema (> or = 2 years of age) was not (OR 1.0; 95% CI 0.7-1.5). Boys were more often atopic at the age of 5-7 years than girls (28.3% vs. 20.6%), and early and late-onset eczema were related to atopy without such a difference (OR 2.8, 95% CI 2.0-4.0; OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-2.8, respectively). The excess of current eczema in 5-7-year-old girls compared with boys was related to the nonatopic type. The higher susceptibility of girls in that age group to develop eczema was reflected by the skin physiological examination: even girls without eczema had significantly higher skin surface pH and lower stratum corneum hydration than boys. Additionally, questionnaire data revealed that girls more often than boys predominantly played indoors, which was associated with more eczema. CONCLUSIONS: Atopy and eczema develop differently in boys and girls. Boys are more often atopic, whereas girls suffer significantly more often from eczema without relation to atopy. The nonatopic type of eczema in preschool girls is noticed predominantly after their second birthday. Genetic and lifestyle factors may contribute to this difference.

Age of Onset↗
PubMed1992

Factors confounding genetic linkage between atopy and chromosome 11q.

The results of testing for linkage between atopy and the chromosome 11 marker D11S97 is shown for all the 723 subjects genotyped by us up to January 1992. Lod score estimations were confounded by the high population prevalence of atopy, maternal inheritance of atopy at the 11q locus, genetic heterogeneity, and excess of atopy in families not ascertained through a single proband. Affected sib-pair analysis shows evidence for linkage which is not dependent on the definition of atopy or model specification. We suggest that presentation of sib-pair data will be suitable for meta-analysis of the different studies of genetic linkage and atopy.

Alleles↗
PubMed1992

Atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness: exclusion of linkage to markers on chromosomes 11q and 6p.

Previous studies have reported a familial predisposition for the development of atopy, bronchial hyperresponsiveness and clinical asthma, and therefore have suggested the presence of a heritable component to these disorders. The specific contributions of genetic and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of allergic disease and asthma have not been determined although Cookson et al. [1] have postulated linkage between atopy and chromosome 11q. We have studied 20 families (two and three generations) ascertained through a proband identified as having asthma (90% were also allergic) during the period of time between 1962 and 1970. Of those who were originally skin test positive, 82% remained positive. All probands whose pulmonary function allowed retesting (FEV1 > 1.2 l) remained hyperresponsive to histamine. The children of these probands are now in the same age range as their parents when they were originally evaluated; 66% are atopic using criteria described by Cookson et al. (one or more positive skin tests > or = 2 mm, an elevated total serum IgE or a positive specific IgE) and 22% demonstrate bronchial hyperresponsiveness (PC20 FEV1) to histamine. Using the highly polymorphic marker INT2 (which maps 2 cM from p lambda MS.5 l on chromosome 11q) and atopy, we obtained a lod score of -2.00 at a recombination fraction of 0.12. In addition, because many studies have suggested an association between atopy and certain HLA antigens, we investigated the possibility of linkage between atopy and bronchial hyperresponsiveness and D6S105, a polymorphic marker on chromosome 6p, located 7 cM from HLA-DR. For this marker and atopy, we observed a lod score of -2.00 with a recombination fraction of 0.07.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Mode of delivery is not associated with asthma or atopy in childhood.

BACKGROUND: Caesarean-section delivery has been associated with the subsequent development of atopy and wheezing in childhood. OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between mode of delivery (vaginal vs. caesarean section) and development of atopy, asthma and wheezing disorders in a population-based cohort of children. METHODS: The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children is a longitudinal birth cohort of children born 1 April 1991 to 31 December 1992. Mode of delivery was categorized as vaginal (including forceps and ventouse extractions) or caesarean section (elective and emergency). Primary outcomes were parental report of asthma or wheezing between 69 and 81 months of age, physician-diagnosed asthma (PDA) at 91 months of age and atopy at 7 years by skin prick testing. Possible confounding factors were considered in a multivariable logistic regression model. RESULTS: Total livebirths were 14,062, from which were selected 12 367 born to mothers resident in a defined area and delivered in one of two major obstetric hospitals. Of these infants, 10,980 (88.8%) were delivered vaginally and 1387 (11.2%) by caesarean section. Outcome data were available for 7495 (61%) subjects (asthma 69-81 months); 7389 (60%) (wheeze 69-81 months); 7196 (58%) (PDA 91 months) and 5916 (48%) (atopy 7 years). Adjusted odds ratios [95%confidence interval] for caesarean section compared with vaginal delivery were not statistically significant for any outcome we considered: asthma 69-81 months 1.16 [0.9, 1.5]; wheeze 69-81 months 0.95 [0.7, 1.3]; PDA 1.14 [0.9, 1.4]; atopy 1.04 [0.8, 1.3]. CONCLUSION: Delivery by caesarean section was not associated with the subsequent development of asthma, wheezing or atopy in later childhood in this population.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Recurrent respiratory tract infections during the first 3 years of life and atopy at school age.

BACKGROUND: The hypothesis that infections reduce the risk of atopy was investigated by estimating the association between recurrent respiratory tract infections during the first 3 years of life and atopy at school age. METHODS: According to surveys in three different areas of Norway, children were classified into three groups: asthma, wheeze without asthma (wheeze), and no asthma/no wheeze. The skin prick test (SPT) was conducted on a stratified random sample of children (n = 502). The outcome was at least one positive SPT. The exposure variable was retrospective parental report of respiratory tract infections during the first 3 years of life. RESULTS: Infections were negatively associated with atopy, crude odds ratio (cOR) = 0.3, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.1-0.7, in the asthma group. A similar association was present in children with wheeze cOR = 0.4 (95% CI 0.1-1.2). The number of siblings was not associated with atopy in any group. Infections remained negatively associated with atopy in children with asthma, aOR = 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.7), in a logistic regression model adjusting for confounding factors. A similar pattern was present in the wheeze group. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent respiratory tract infections during the first 3 years of life are negatively associated with atopy at school age in children with asthma.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Linkage between severe atopy and chromosome 11q13 in Japanese families.

Atopy, characterised by allergic asthma and rhinitis, is due to increased IgE responses to common aeroallergens. An Oxford group has described maternal inheritance of atopy, where there is significant linkage between IgE responsiveness and a VNTR marker D11S97 and a CA microsatellite within a candidate gene, the high affinity IgE receptor beta subunit (Fc epsilon RI beta), on chromosome 11q. Attempts at independent replication have produced conflicting results. We therefore recruited 270 atopic asthmatic probands in a Japanese community population for genetic linkage analysis. Four families, each with more than 15 meioses and a clear phenotype for atopy, were selected for genetic analysis. Atopy was defined as presence of all of raised total IgE, positive RAST and skin tests to three or more aeroallergens; non-atopy, as absence of all these criteria. Linkage analysis showed a maximum two-point lod score of 9.35 for D11S97 and Fc epsilon RI beta under the assumption of unequal rates of maternal and paternal recombination. Two families showed close genetic linkage with Fc epsilon RI beta with a pattern of maternal inheritance. These results from a Japanese population provide further evidence for genetic linkage between severe atopy and chromosome 11q13 and the likelihood of genomic imprinting at the locus.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1994

Role of atopy in the natural history of wheeze and bronchial hyper-responsiveness in childhood.

The role of atopy in the development of asthma has become increasingly recognised. We have been prospectively following a birth cohort of children of atopic parents to document the development of atopic disease. Our aim in this study was to document the natural history of BHR and wheeze at 10 years of age and to relate this to atopy. We reviewed 47 of our original cohort of 79 infants at 10 years of age and documented their clinical history of atopic disease and performed allergen skin prick tests and BHR to histamine. Thirty-three (70%) children wheezed at some time during their 10 years of life, with 13 commencing in infancy. Twenty-two children (47%) had current wheeze at 10 years of age. Wheeze in infancy was a poor predictor (RR 1.23, CI95 0.66-2.23) of current wheeze while wheeze commencing after infancy was a good predictor (RR 2.89, CI95 1.45-5.2). In contrast both atopy in infancy (RR 2.94, CI95 1.92-4.53) and current atopy (RR 3.58, CI95 1.43-9.03) were strong predictors of current wheeze. Analysis of BHR confirmed the importance of atopy in predicting its occurrence and severity. Sensitisation to D. pteronyssinus appeared to be the strongest predictor of both current wheeze and BHR. These observations confirm the importance of atopy in predicting outcome in children with asthma and suggest that wheezing in infancy and wheezing in later childhood may have different pathogenetic mechanisms.

Bronchial Hyperreactivity↗
PubMed1983

A common congenital immunodeficiency predisposing to infection and atopy in infancy.

Twenty six infants with a congenital immunodeficiency, characterised by failure of their sera to opsonise heat killed bakers' yeast for phagocytosis by normal polymorphonuclear leucocytes, were studied during infancy to determine the frequency of infection and development of atopy. They were compared with controls, matched prospectively for birth date, sex, parental smoking, and atopy and in whom feeding patterns were similar. In 18 of 26 infants the serum defect persisted at age one year. The incidence of infection and atopy, was appreciably greater in the study group than in controls. The 8 children in whom the defect was transient had a similar incidence of infection but a higher incidence of atopy than controls. Eight of 26 mothers and four of 9 fathers tested also had the serum defect, suggesting a strong genetic component. We support the hypothesis that immunodeficiency predisposes to infection and atopy, and that transient immunodeficiency predisposes to atopy.

Breast Feeding↗
PubMed1989

Associations between respiratory symptoms, bronchial response to methacholine, and atopy in two age groups of schoolchildren.

Data on respiratory symptoms were obtained on 2503 schoolchildren aged 7 and 11 in Southampton by means of a self administered parental questionnaire. Children were classified into seven symptom groups from which 330 were tested for bronchial responsiveness to less than or equal to 6.4 mumol methacholine and skin tested for the presence of atopy. The symptoms of wheeze, cough, and shortness of breath were all significantly associated both with each other and bronchial responsiveness to methacholine but only wheeze was associated with atopy. The association of wheeze with both bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and atopy remained highly significant when controlling for the symptoms of cough and shortness of breath. Neither cough nor shortness of breath, however, were significantly related to bronchial responsiveness to methacholine when controlling for the symptom of wheeze. This study therefore calls into question the epidemiological relevance of these two symptoms as diagnostic features of asthma, particularly in the absence of wheeze, although they may be useful indicators of morbidity. Wheeze was not related to bronchial responsiveness to methacholine in the absence of atopy or to atopy in the absence of bronchial responsiveness to methacholine but was strongly related to the combination of the two phenomena. The presence of these three characteristics could therefore indicate a discrete disease entity. The decrease in the prevalence of cough between 7 and 11 years appeared to be mirrored by a similar decrease in the prevalence of wheeze when the symptom was not associated with the combination of bronchial responsiveness to methacholine and atopy. On the basis of these findings and those of others we suggest that the latter group may represent children with a separate disease entity(ies) or with residual symptoms secondary to acute viral or other infections of the lower respiratory tract.

Asthma↗
PubMed1997

Cross sectional retrospective study of prevalence of atopy among Italian military students with antibodies against hepatitis A virus.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the working hypothesis that common infections occurring early in life prevent atopy. DESIGN: Cross sectional, retrospective study of young Italian men with results for hepatitis A serology and atopy. SETTING: Air force school of military students in Caserta, Italy. SUBJECTS: 1659 male students aged 17-24, most of whom (90%) were from central and southern Italy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Skin sensitisation and specific IgE antibodies to locally relevant airborne allergens; diagnosis of respiratory allergy (asthma or rhinitis, or both); hepatitis A seropositivity. RESULTS: 443 of the 1659 subjects (26.7%) were positive for hepatitis A virus antibody. Atopy was less common among seropositive than seronegative subjects according to skin sensitization (weal reaction > or = 3 mm) to one or more allergens (21.9% (97/443) v 30.2% (367/1216), P < 0.001); polysensitisation (sensitive to three or more allergens) (2.7% (12/443) v 6.4% (78/1216), P < 0.01); high specific IgF concentration (9.7% (43/443) v 18.4% (224/1216), P < 0.00005); and lifetime prevalence of allergic rhinitis or asthma, or both (8.4% (37/443) v 16.7% (203/1216), P < 0.001). Hepatitis A seropositivity remained inversely associated with atopy after adjusting for father's education, the number of older siblings, and the area of residence (based on the number of inhabitants). The prevalence of atopy was constantly low among seropositive subjects, whatever the number of older siblings; by contrast, it increased with a decreasing number of older siblings among seronegative subjects. CONCLUSION: Indirect but important evidence is added to the working hypothesis as common infections acquired early in life because of the presence of many older siblings (among seronegative subjects) or because of unhygienic living conditions (among seropositive subjects) may have reduced the risk of developing atopy.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[IL4RA gene polymorphism (Q576R) is associated with higher total IgE levels in Spanish patients with family history of atopy].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Atopy is a common immunological disorder underlying allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis and allergic asthma. There is an association between atopy and the polymorphism Q576R in the IL4RA gene. The aim of this study is to analyze the allelic distribution of the Q576R polymorphism in an atopic and non atopic population and the relationship with total IgE levels and the family history of atopy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Q576R polymorphism of IL4RA gene was analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using MspI restriction enzyme in 154 patients from the Allergy Department of the University Hospital of Salamanca. RESULTS: We have not found an association between the R576 allele and higher serum IgE levels nor atopy in this population. Nevertheless, there is an association between this allele and IgE levels in patients with positive skin prick test and family history of atopy. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the R576 allele could characterize a specific group of patients with a familial history of atopy in whom the presence of this allele may be related to higher levels of serum IgE.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

The effect of lifestyle on wheeze, atopy, and bronchial hyperreactivity in Asian and white children.

There is increasing evidence linking Western culture to increasing prevalence of asthma. We have measured the prevalence of symptoms of asthma, bronchial hyperreactivity, and atopy in a sample of white and Asian inner city schoolchildren aged 8-11 yr in the U.K. and assessed the influence of certain aspects of western culture on these variables. Bronchial reactivity was measured by methacholine challenge, atopy by allergen skin prick tests, and symptoms of asthma and aspects of lifestyle by questionnaire. Degree of Westernization was assessed from dietary habit categorized as exclusively Asian, mostly Asian, mixed, or exclusively English. The questionnaire was completed by 92% of children. The 308 white and 539 Asian children were of similar age (mean 9.3 yr versus 9.4 yr) with slightly more girls in the Asian group (52.6% versus 47.4%). The white children reported more wheeze within the past year (14.2% versus 8.8%, p = 0.01) but less were atopic (29.5% versus 38.4%, p = 0.01) with no significant difference in the prevalence of hyperreactivity (31.5% versus 29.6%, p = 0.57). Most Asians (97%) included Asian food in their diet; 35% ate a mostly Asian diet, 45% ate a mixed English and Asian diet, and 17% ate an exclusively Asian diet. After controlling for confounding factors whites were at higher risk of hyperreactivity and lower risk of atopy, and the risk of hyperreactivity and to a lesser extent atopy among Asian children was related to diet in a dose response fashion. The relative odds for hyperreactivity with an exclusively Asian, mostly Asian, or a mixed diet relative to an English diet were 0.31 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.62), 0.88 (0.56 to 1.37), and 0.99 (0.65 to 1.49), and for atopy were 1.22 (0.72 to 2.06), 1.47 (0.99 to 2.19), and 1.78 (1.23 to 2.58). These results suggest that diet or other closely related factors associated with Westernization are involved in the etiology of atopy and hyperreactivity.

Asian People↗
PubMed2004

Functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of macrophage migration inhibitory factor and atopy.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a pleiotrophic lymphocyte and macrophage cytokine; it is likely to play an important role in innate immunity. Genome-wide search for atopy susceptibility genes recently identified human chromosome 22q11, where the gene encoding MIF resides, as a region of interest for atopic traits. Both the -173G/C and -794 [CATT]5-8 repeat polymorphisms in the MIF promoter region are associated with altered levels of MIF gene transcription in vitro. We, therefore, hypothesized that these potentially functional polymorphisms may influence susceptibility to atopy and asthma. A case-control analysis examined the genetic influence of these promoter polymorphisms on the development of atopy and asthma in a Japanese population (n = 584). Evidence for significant association between the -173G/C and -794 [CATT]5-8 repeat polymorphisms and atopy was found; odds ratio for homozygotes of -173C allele was 3.67 (compared with homozygotes of -173G allele, 95% confidence interval = 1.43-9.46, p < 0.01), and odds ratio for noncarriers of the -794 [5-CATT] allele was 3.51 (compared with 5-CATT repeat homozygotes, 95% confidence interval = 1.82-6.78, p < 0.0005). No associations with asthma were detected. These results indicate that promoter polymorphisms in the MIF promoter region are risk factors for atopy and implicate MIF in the pathogenesis of atopy in a Japanese population.

Adolescent↗