Filaggrin null mutations are associated with atopic dermatitis and elevated levels of IgE in the Japanese population: a family and case-control study.

Filaggrin (FLG) plays an important role in the barrier function of the skin. Several loss-of-function mutations in the FLG gene have been identified in patients with ichthyosis vulgaris, and these null mutations are associated with atopic dermatitis (AD) development. In this study, we examined tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) and null mutations in FLG for possible associations with AD and atopic phenotypes in a Japanese population.