The effect of parental allergy on childhood allergic diseases depends on the sex of the child.

Background: The parent-of-origin effect is important in understanding the genetic basis of childhood allergic diseases and improving our ability to identify high-risk children.

Objective: We sought to investigate the parent-of-origin effect in childhood allergic diseases.

Methods: The Isle of Wight Birth Cohort (n= 1456) has been examined at 1, 2, 4, 10, and 18 years of age.

Air pollutant exposure and preterm and term small-for-gestational-age births in Detroit, Michigan: long-term trends and associations.

Studies in a number of countries have reported associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight, preterm birth (PTB) and, less commonly, small for gestational age (SGA). Despite their growing number, the available studies have significant limitations, e.g.

Do symptoms predict COPD in smokers?

Background: The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends against spirometry in the absence of symptoms. However, as much as 50% of COPD cases in the United States remain undiagnosed.

Methods: Report of symptoms, smoking history, and spirometric data were collected from subjects screened for a work-related medical evaluation (N = 3,955).

COPD is associated with a macrophage scavenger receptor-1 gene sequence variation.

Background: Macrophages play an important role in COPD. We genotyped at-risk smokers to evaluate the role of polymorphisms in the macrophage scavenger receptor-1 gene (MSR1) in COPD susceptibility and related measures of lung function. Then, in macrophages from donors with specific MSR1 genotypes, we determined the effect of MSR1 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on macrophage function by examining in vitro adhesion, receptor expression, and cell number in culture as an index of increased survival/reduced apoptosis.

Adam33 polymorphisms are associated with COPD and lung function in long-term tobacco smokers.

Background: Variation in ADAM33 has been shown to be important in the development of asthma and altered lung function. This relationship however, has not been investigated in the population susceptible to COPD; long term tobacco smokers. We evaluated the association between polymorphisms in ADAM33 gene with COPD and lung function in long term tobacco smokers.

IL13 gene polymorphisms modify the effect of exposure to tobacco smoke on persistent wheeze and asthma in childhood, a longitudinal study.

Background: Tobacco smoke and genetic susceptibility are risk factors for asthma and wheezing. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a combined effect of interleukin-13 gene (IL13) polymorphisms and tobacco smoke on persistent childhood wheezing and asthma.

Methods: In the Isle of Wight birth cohort (UK, 1989-1999), five IL13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs1800925 (-1112C/T), rs2066960, rs1295686, rs20541 (R130Q) and rs1295685 were genotyped.

Patterns of GATA3 and IL13 gene polymorphisms associated with childhood rhinitis and atopy in a birth cohort.

Background: GATA3 activates transcription of the T(H)2 cytokines, including IL13, an important step in the allergic inflammatory pathway.

Objective: We sought to identify associations of single nucleotide polymorphisms of the genes GATA3 and IL13 and their interactions with rhinitis and allergic sensitization during childhood.

Methods: We performed genetic association studies in a cohort of children (n = 923) who have been evaluated for the development of rhinitis and allergic sensitization by means of skin prick tests (SPTs) at age 10 years.

IL13 promoter polymorphism 1112C/T modulates the adverse effect of tobacco smoking on lung function.

Rationale: Although the duration and amount of cigarette smoking correlate with reduction in pulmonary function, there is still variation among individual responses. IL-13 is involved in pulmonary inflammation, remodeling, and susceptibility to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Objectives: We investigated whether the relationships between smoking and the lung function measures FEV(1) and FEV(1)/FVC ratio are modulated by IL13 polymorphisms.

IL13 gene polymorphism association with cord serum immunoglobulin E.

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has a pivotal role in the pathway of immunoglobulin E (IgE). Cord serum IgE has been suggested to be associated with allergy later in life, yet less affected by environmental exposures. We investigated the association of the interleukin-13 gene (IL13) polymorphisms on cord serum IgE.

Prevention of allergic disease during childhood by allergen avoidance: the Isle of Wight prevention study.

Background: Early life allergen exposure may increase the risk of childhood allergy, but the protective effect of reduction in allergen exposure remains uncertain.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of reduction in food and house dust mite (HDM) allergen exposure in infancy in preventing asthma and allergy.

Methods: Infants, at higher risk because of family predisposition, were recruited prenatally and randomized to prophylactic (n = 58) and control (n = 62) groups.