Abstract
Asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder controlled by both genetic and environmental influences. Multiple genetic analyses have identified the T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokine gene cluster on chromosome 5q as a susceptibility locus for asthma. Recently, the Th2 cytokine interleukin-13 has been shown to be a critical mediator of the asthma phenotype in murine models. In this commentary we discuss several recent studies that have identified polymorphisms in the gene encoding interleukin-13. The consistent genetic associations of interleukin-13 with asthma and related traits across diverse ethnic populations in these studies provides strong support for the candidacy of this cytokine as a susceptibility locus for asthma and atopy on chromosome 5q31.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 19-23 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Respiratory research |
| Volume | 1 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2000 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Asthma
- Atopy
- Genetics
- Interleukin-13
- Interleukin-4 receptor
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine