1. ¹Department of Paediatric Dermatology, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, Crumlin, Dublin, Ireland
2. ²Epithelial Genetics Group, Human Genetics Unit, Division of Pathology and Neuroscience, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee, United Kingdom

Correspondence: Prof. Irwin McLean, Human Genetics Unit, Ninewells Hospital & Medical School, Dundee DD1 9SY, United Kingdom. E-mail w.h.i.mclean@dundee.ac.uk

Abstract

We have recently shown that loss-of-function mutations in the filaggrin gene, carried by about 10% of people of European ethnicity, cause ichthyosis vulgaris and are strong predisposing factors for atopic dermatitis and asthma secondary to atopic dermatitis. These results demonstrate a prominent role for the epidermal barrier in atopic disease and have important implications for the study of complex traits.