Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med.,
Volume 162, Number 4, October 2000, 1268-1272
Linkage Analysis of Markers on Chromosome
11q13 with Asthma and Atopy in a United
Kingdom Population
N.
SIMON THOMAS,
JANE
WILKINSON,
CHRISTINE
LONJOU,
NEWTON E.
MORTON,
and
STEPHEN T.
HOLGATE
Human Genetics, and Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology Division, University of Southampton, Southampton General Hospital,
Southampton, United Kingdom
Previous studies have suggested that atopy is linked to the beta
chain of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc
R1-
) on chromosome 11q13. Fc R1- polymorphisms, I181L, V183L, and E237G, are reported to be associated with asthma and atopy. The aim of this
study was to investigate linkage to Fc R1- in a UK population and to assess the frequency of the polymorphisms and their association with asthma and atopy. A sample of 131 families was recruited at
random with a sample of 109 families ascertained via an asthmatic proband. Each subject completed a written and video-assisted
questionnaire and underwent bronchial challenge and skin prick
testing. Serum total and specific IgE levels were measured. Quantitative scores were derived for asthma and atopy using principal
component analysis. Four microsatellite markers were genotyped,
including Fc R1-. The frequency of the I181L and V183L polymorphisms were determined by sequencing, and the E237G polymorphism was determined using the amplification refractory mutation
system. We found no evidence for linkage to Fc R1- and only
weak evidence for linkage to the less informative marker E237G.
We found no examples of the I181L/V183L polymorphism in our
population sample. Our study has failed to strengthen the evidence
for a candidate gene on chromosome 11q13.
