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Allergic diseases are influenced by both genes and environment. A 70-kb haplotype block in the G protein-coupled receptor for asthma susceptibility gene (GPR154; alias GPRA) on chromosome 7p was recently identified to influence susceptibility to asthma and elevated total serum IgE levels in adults.To assess the impact of GPR154 on childhood allergic disease, including allergic sensitization, asthma, and rhinoconjunctivitis, in study populations with diverse environmental backgrounds.We studied farm children, Steiner school children, and two reference groups from five Western European countries in the cross-sectional PARSIFAL (Prevention of Allergy Risk factors for Sensitization In children related to Farming and Anthroposophic Lifestyle) study and a sample of children from the Swedish birth cohort study BAMSE. DNA samples from 3,113 PARSIFAL and 800 BAMSE children were genotyped for 7 GPR154 polymorphisms and haplotypes were inferred. The proportions of alleles and haplotypes (H1-H7) were compared in affected children with their healthy counterparts.Data indicate a global association of the haplotype block to sensitization (allergen-specific serum IgE > or = 0.35 kU/L, p = 0.022), with significant haplotype-specific associations for H1, H5, and H6. Haplotypes H1 and H5 were also significantly associated with childhood allergic asthma (p = 0.045 and p = 0.023, respectively), and H5 to asthma regardless of sensitization. A broader involvement of GPR154 in allergic diseases was further supported in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (H3: p = 0.046). The associated haplotypes could be allocated into risk (H5/H6) and nonrisk (H1/H3) groups, a pattern supported by allelic association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs324384 and rs324396.Our results indicate that polymorphisms and haplotypes in the haplotype block of GPR154 are associated with asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and sensitization in European children.

Original publication

DOI

10.1164/rccm.200410-1317oc

Type

Journal article

Journal

American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine

Publication Date

05/2005

Volume

171

Pages

1089 - 1095

Addresses

Institute of Environmental Medicine, Centre for Allergy Research, and Department of Biosciences, Karolinska Institutet, Box 210, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden.

Keywords

PARSIFAL Genetics Study Group, Humans, Asthma, Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial, Conjunctivitis, Allergic, Hypersensitivity, Immediate, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled, Prevalence, Cohort Studies, Cross-Sectional Studies, Age Distribution, Sex Distribution, Haplotypes, Polymorphism, Genetic, Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Europe, Female, Male