A polymorphism within the promoter region of the RANTES chemokine gene is associated with an increased risk of asthma and atopy, suggests a paper published in 11 December
Genetic linkage analysis in families has previously identified an area on chromosome 17q11 that harbours a group of cytokines called C-C chemokines. Of these chemokines, RANTES (regulated upon activation, normally t-expressed, and presumably secreted) is essential for the attraction of memory T cells to the site of inflammation as well as for the release of histamine and prostaglandin D2 from basophils.
The authors identified a polymorphism within the promoter region of the RANTES gene (-403 G-A) on chromosome 17q11. Using a PCR-RFLP assay, they investigated the correlation between the presence of the -403A allele with results of skin prick tests, serum IgE levels ...
