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A genome-wide search for quantitative trait loci underlying asthma

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Abstract

ASTHMA now affects one child in seven in the United Kingdom1. Most cases (95%) of childhood asthma are associated with atopy, the immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated familial syndrome of allergic asthma, eczema and rhinitis. Segregation analysis has consistently suggested the presence of major genes influencing atopy and IgE levels2–4, with the expectation that these genes may be identified by positional cloning or the examination of candidate genes. Here we report the results of a genome-wide search for linkage to one qualitative and four quantitative traits associated with allergic (atopic) asthma. We have identified six potential linkages (P < 0.001), five of which are to quantitative traits. Monte Carlo simulations show that 1.6 false-positive linkages at this level of significance would be expected from the data. One linkage, to chromosome Ilql3, has been established previously5. Three of the new loci show evidence of linkage to a second panel of families, in which maternal effects and pleiotropy of linked phenotypes are seen. The results demonstrate the extent and the complexity of the genetic predisposition to asthma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetic Disease, University of Oxford, Windmill Road, Oxford, 0X3 7BN, UK

    Susan E. Daniels, Sumit Bhattacharrya, Nicholas I. Leaves, Alan Young, G. Mark Lathrop & William O. C. M. Cookson

  2. Department of Respiratory Medicine, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Alan James & Gerrard F. Ryan

  3. CTSU, Harkness Building, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, 0X2 6HE, UK

    Alan Young & A. William Musk

  4. Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford,John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, 0X3 9DU, UK

    Michael R. Hill, Jennie A. Faux & William O. C. M. Cookson

  5. University Department of Paediatrics, Princess Margaret Hospital, Perth, Western Australia, Australia

    Peter N. le Söuef

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  1. Susan E. Daniels
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  2. Sumit Bhattacharrya
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  3. Alan James
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  4. Nicholas I. Leaves
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  5. Alan Young
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  6. Michael R. Hill
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  7. Jennie A. Faux
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  8. Gerrard F. Ryan
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  9. Peter N. le Söuef
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  10. G. Mark Lathrop
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  11. A. William Musk
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  12. William O. C. M. Cookson
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Daniels, S., Bhattacharrya, S., James, A. et al. A genome-wide search for quantitative trait loci underlying asthma. Nature 383, 247–250 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/383247a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/383247a0

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