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Novel genetic variation of human interleukin-21 receptor is associated with elevated IgE levels in females

Genes & Immunity volume 4, pages 228–233 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

The interleukin-21 receptor (IL21R) was recently discovered as a novel member of the class-I-cytokine-receptor family and is selectively expressed in lymphoid tissues. IL21R shows strong sequence homologies to the interleukin-4 receptor α chain gene (IL4RA). In addition, both genes are adjacent and share structural similarity. We analyzed all the exons of the human IL21R gene and its 5′ flanking region for sequence variation. We identified four novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genotyped 300 healthy blood donors. Total serum IgE levels were measured in all subjects and associated with IL21R SNPs. Results revealed a significant association of one IL21R polymorphism (T-83C) with elevated IgE levels (>100 kU/I) in females (OR=3.000, CI=[1.163;8.385], P=0.015, n=138). This was confirmed in a second prospectively collected group of female blood donors (OR=2.535, CI=[0.927;6.733], P=0.046, n=123). In contrast, no effects were observed in male subjects in either population. These findings identify IL21R as a possible novel target locus influencing IgE synthesis in female individuals.

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Acknowledgements

The excellent technical assistance of Ms Uta Schellenberg and Ms Angelika Nockher is gratefully acknowledged. We are grateful to Professor Katz and Dr Auch, Institute of Clinical Chemistry, University of Giessen, for measuring IgE levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Clinical Immunology and Transfusion Medicine, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany

    M Hecker, A Bohnert, G Bein & H Hackstein

  2. Institute of Medical Biometrics and Statistics, University at Lübeck, Germany

    I R König

Authors
  1. M Hecker
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  2. A Bohnert
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  3. I R König
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  4. G Bein
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  5. H Hackstein
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Correspondence to H Hackstein.

Additional information

This work was supported by grants from the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Germany (NGFN IE-S08T03). H Hackstein is supported by a scholarship of the Stiftung Hämotherapie-Forschung, Bonn, Germany.

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Hecker, M., Bohnert, A., König, I. et al. Novel genetic variation of human interleukin-21 receptor is associated with elevated IgE levels in females. Genes Immun 4, 228–233 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6363954

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