Epistasis between serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 5 (SPINK5) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) genes contributes to childhood asthma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epithelial genes have previously been associated with asthma but only explain a small fraction of heritability. In part, this might be due to epistasis, which is often not considered.

Objective

We sought to determine independent and epistatic associations between filaggrin (FLG), serine protease inhibitor Kazal-type 5 (SPINK5), and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) gene variants and childhood asthma.

Methods

Using a candidate gene approach, we genotyped 29 variants in FLG, SPINK5, and TSLP in asthmatic, allergic, and nonallergic nonasthmatic white and black children participating in the well-phenotyped Greater Cincinnati Pediatric Clinic Repository. Associations with asthma were also assessed in 6 replication populations.

Results

We observed indepe

SUBMITTER: Biagini Myers JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4186896 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature