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Polymorphism in the STAT6 gene encodes risk for nut allergy

Genes & Immunity volume 3, pages 220–224 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Nut allergy is an important and potentially life threatening food allergy with a prevalence of one in 150 children in the UK population. STAT6 (signal transducer and activator of transcription) is an important molecule in the induction and regulation of an allergic response, which maps to chromosome 12q in a region previously linked with total serum IgE concentration and atopy in different populations. We have examined the frequency of a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 3′UTR region of STAT6 gene in 71 UK Caucasoid patients diagnosed with nut allergy and 45 atopic patients without nut allergy using PCR-RFLP and compared these with 184 UK healthy controls. The STAT6 G allele frequency was significantly increased in nut allergy patients compared with blood donor controls (P < 0.0001, OR = 2.9, 95% CI: 1.7–4.9), which was under a recessive model (GG vs GA+AA, P = 0.0001, OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.7–5.8) but not in atopic patients without nut allergy. The G allele was most frequent in the severe cases and GG homozygosity was associated with the increased risk of severe reaction (OR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.9–8.3). We conclude that STAT6 3′UTR polymorphism is associated with susceptibility and severity in nut allergic patients in our population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Centre for Integrated Genomic Medical Research, Manchester University Medical School, Stopford Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK

    M M Amoli & W E R Ollier

  2. Prince Charles Hospital, Merthyr Tydfil CF47 9DT, Wales, UK

    S Hand

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (1122), King Fahad National Guard Hospital, PO Box 22490, Riyadh, 11426, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    A H Hajeer

  4. University of Wales Institute Cardiff, Western Avenue, Cardiff CF5 2YB, Wales, UK

    K P Jones & S Rolf

  5. Llandough Hospital, Penarth CF64 2XX, Wales, UK

    C Sting & B H Davies

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  1. M M Amoli
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Correspondence to W E R Ollier.

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Amoli, M., Hand, S., Hajeer, A. et al. Polymorphism in the STAT6 gene encodes risk for nut allergy. Genes Immun 3, 220–224 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6363872

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6363872

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