Fine mapping and positional candidate studies identify HLA-G as an asthma susceptibility gene on chromosome 6p21

Dan Nicolae, Nancy J. Cox, Lucille A. Lester, Daniel Schneider, Zheng Tan, Christine Billstrand, Susan Kuldanek, Joseph Donfack, Paul Kogut, Nina M. Patel, Jeffrey Goodenbour, Timothy Howard, Raoul Wolf, Gerard H. Koppelman, Steven R. White, Rodney Parry, Dirkje S. Postma, Deborah Meyers, Eugene R. Bleecker, Joan S. HuntJulian Solway, Carole Ober

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

206 Scopus citations

Abstract

Asthma affects nearly 14 million people worldwide and has been steadily increasing in frequency for the past 50 years. Although environmental factors clearly influence the onset, progression, and severity of this disease, family and twin studies indicate that genetic variation also influences susceptibility. Linkage of asthma and related phenotypes to chromosome 6p21 has been reported in seven genome screens, making it the most replicated region of the genome. However, because many genes with individually small effects are likely to contribute to risk, identification of asthma susceptibility loci has been challenging. In this study, we present evidence from four independent samples in support of HLA-G as a novel asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness susceptibility gene in the human leukocyte antigen region on chromosome 6p21, and we speculate that this gene might contribute to risk for other inflammatory diseases that show linkage to this region.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)349-357
Number of pages9
JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics
Volume76
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2005
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)

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