Association of Toll-like receptor 4 alleles with symptoms and sensitization to laboratory animals.

Background: Researchers and technicians working with laboratory animals (LAs) are exposed to animal allergen and endotoxin, which can interact to potentiate or inhibit symptoms or allergic responses. We hypothesized that functional genetic variants of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), a key surface receptor for endotoxin, interface between worker and workplace and affect animal sensitization, symptoms, or both.

Objective: We sought to determine whether TLR4/8551 variants alter the risk for LA sensitization, symptoms, or both.