PMID- 9351591
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19971106
LR  - 20151119
IS  - 1073-449X (Print)
IS  - 1073-449X (Linking)
VI  - 156
IP  - 4 Pt 2
DP  - 1997 Oct
TI  - Complexities of the genetics of asthma.
PG  - S117-22
AB  - The task of deciphering the genetics of asthma is very complex. Recent studies of 
      the familiar segregation of asthma showed that no single gene accounts for a 
      major part of the expression of the disease, and that a polygenic model with some 
      evidence of an oligogenic influence (i.e., a handful of loci being responsible 
      for most of the genetic control) provided the best fit to the data. Although a 
      final common pathway of recurrent bronchial obstruction is present in most cases 
      of asthma, the disease shows marked phenotypic variability, suggesting etiologic 
      heterogeneity and strong environmental influences. In an effort to circumvent 
      these obstacles, linkage studies for genes controlling for apparently simpler 
      phenotypes have been attempted. Total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels, for 
      example, show strong familiar aggregation and are known to be strongly correlated 
      with asthma risk. Recent epidemiologic studies have suggested, however, that the 
      inherited component of total serum IgE may be of little relevance as a 
      determinant of asthma. Sensitization to certain aeroallergens is also associated 
      with increased prevalence of asthma and is likely to have a genetic component, 
      but the aeroallergens involved vary markedly with locale. In addition, 
      sensitization to aeroallergens occurring at an early age is more strongly 
      associated with asthma risk than late allergic sensitization, suggesting genetic 
      heterogeneity. Therefore, studies of the genetics of phenotypes known to be 
      strongly associated with asthma may clarify the causal role (if any) of the genes 
      regulating their expression in the pathogenesis of asthma.
FAU - Martinez, F D
AU  - Martinez FD
AD  - Respiratory Sciences Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson 85724, USA.
LA  - eng
GR  - HL03154/HL/NHLBI NIH HHS/United States
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
PT  - Review
PL  - United States
TA  - Am J Respir Crit Care Med
JT  - American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine
JID - 9421642
RN  - 0 (Allergens)
RN  - 0 (Biomarkers)
RN  - 37341-29-0 (Immunoglobulin E)
SB  - IM
MH  - Allergens/immunology
MH  - Asthma/*genetics/immunology
MH  - Biomarkers/blood
MH  - Genotype
MH  - Humans
MH  - Immunoglobulin E/blood
MH  - Phenotype
MH  - Skin Tests
RF  - 25
EDAT- 1997/11/14 00:00
MHDA- 1997/11/14 00:01
CRDT- 1997/11/14 00:00
PHST- 1997/11/14 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1997/11/14 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1997/11/14 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1164/ajrccm.156.4.12tac-8 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1997 Oct;156(4 Pt 2):S117-22. doi: 
      10.1164/ajrccm.156.4.12tac-8.