An epigenome-wide association study of total serum immunoglobulin E concentration.

ABSTRACT: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a central mediator of allergic (atopic) inflammation. Therapies directed against IgE can alleviate hay fever and allergic asthma. Genetic association studies have not yet identified novel therapeutic targets or pathways underlying IgE regulation. We therefore surveyed epigenetic associations between serum IgE concentrations and methylation at loci concentrated in CpG islands genome wide in 95 nuclear pedigrees, using DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes. We validated positive results in additional families and in subjects from the general population. Here we show replicated associations--with a meta-analysis false discovery rate less than 10(-4)--between IgE and low methylation at 36 loci. Genes annotated to these loci encode known eosinophil products, and also im

SUBMITTER: Liang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4416961 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature