Abstract
Atopy is a predisposition to hyperproduction of immunoglobulin E (IgE) against common environmental allergens. It is often associated with development of allergic diseases such as asthma, rhinitis, and dermatitis.
Production of IgE is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. In spite of progress in the study of heredity of atopy, the genetic mechanisms of IgE regulation have not yet been completely elucidated.
The analysis of complex traits can benefit considerably from integration of human and mouse genetics. Previously, we mapped a mouse IgE-controlling locus Lmr9 on chromosome 4 to a segment of ELEMENT OF2.0 was detected at 5q33 (D5S1507, LODELEMENT OF=ELEMENT OF2.11, PELEMENT OF=ELEMENT OF0.0009) and 13q14 (D13S165, LODELEMENT OF=ELEMENT OF2.74, PELEMENT OF=ELEMENT OF0.0002).
The significant association with plant allergens (quantitative and discrete traits) was found at 7p14 (D7S2250, corrected PELEMENT OF=ELEMENT OF0.026) and 12q13 (D12S1298, corrected PELEMENT OF=ELEMENT OF0.043). Thus, the finding of linkage on chromosome 8q12 shows precision and predictive power of mouse models in the investigation of complex traits in humans.
Our results also confirm the role of loci at 5q33, 7p14, 12q14, and 13q13 in control of IgE.