The -431C>T polymorphism of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine increases the promoter activity but is not associated with susceptibility to atopic dermatitis in Japanese patients.

Background: Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). We recently detected the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (-431C>T) in the 5'-flanking region of TARC gene.

Objectives: To examine whether the -431C>T SNP of the TARC gene is associated with susceptibility to AD and whether it affects the promoter activity of the TARC gene.

Lack of association of CCR4 single nucleotide polymorphism with atopic dermatitis in Japanese patients.

CCR4, a member of the CC chemokine receptor family, is believed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. To examine whether CCR4 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with susceptibility to atopic dermatitis, we investigated the allele and genotype frequencies of C1014T SNP of CCR4 in 198 Japanese patients with atopic dermatitis and controls by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. There was no significant difference in allele or genotype frequencies between patients with atopic dermatitis and controls.

Interleukin-12 p40 gene (IL12B) 3'-untranslated region polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to atopic dermatitis and psoriasis vulgaris.

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is believed to play an important role in inducing Th1-type cytokine profiles. Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) are considered to be Th2 and Th1 type disease, respectively. The IL-12 p40 subunit gene (IL12B) is located at chromosome 5q31-33 and linkage findings of AD on 5q31 were reported.

Interleukin-13 gene polymorphism G4257A is associated with atopic dermatitis in Japanese patients.

Interleukin (IL)-13 plays an important role in the induction of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). We investigated the allele and genotype frequencies of three IL-13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (A704C and C1103T in the promoter region and G4257A in exon 4) in Japanese patients with AD. For A704C and C1103T SNPs, there were no significant differences in allele or genotype frequencies between AD patients and controls.

Eotaxin gene single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter and exon regions are not associated with susceptibility to atopic dermatitis, but two of them in the promoter region are associated with serum IgE levels in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Eotaxin is believed to play an important role in atopic dermatitis (AD) as a potent chemoattractant and activator of eosinophils and Th2 lymphocytes. The eotaxin gene is located at chromosome 17q21.1-q21.