GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ASTHMA AND ASTHMA RELATED TRAITS

Asthma is known to run in families, but the genetic mechanisms involved
in its pathogenesis are not well understood. The study of thee mechanism
requires an understanding of the factors associated with and predisposing
to the development of the disease. Several intermediate phenotypes for
asthma have been described relating to: total serum IgE levels,
bronchial hyperresponsiveness, susceptibility to become sensitized to
aeroallergens and baseline airway function (as assessed by spirometry).
In addition, segregation analyses have been performed on the families
that support the hypothesis that total serum IgE levels are controlled
by a major autosomal codominant gene. The aims of this proposal are:
to perform linkage analysis of this putative gene for total IgE levels
with candidate genes and with highly polymorphic markers whose location
in the human genome is known; and to determine by segregation analysis
if a monogenic component is involved in the inheritance of bronchial
hyperresponsiveness, baseline airway function, and susceptibility to
become sensitized to multiple aeroallergens. These studies will allow
a better understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma and help in this
prevention and treatment.