Effects of TMEM232 Variant on Infant Atopic Dermatitis According to Maternal Factors.

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is caused by interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Transmembrane protein 232 (TMEM232) is one of the genes strongly implicated in AD.

Methods

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between AD with variants within TMEM232 based on maternal factors, including a history of allergic diseases, and sensitization to Der f. We performed a candidate gene association study involving the Cohort for Childhood Origins of Asthma and Allergic Diseases.

Results

A single variant of the TMEM232 gene, rs17132261, was found to be significantly associated with AD. Subjects carrying the wild-type allele (C) of rs17132261 had higher total IgE than those carrying the variant rs17132261 (T). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between TMEM232 gene polymorphism and an increased risk of AD in one-year-old infants. Moreover, rs17132261 was associated with increased total IgE in infants with a maternal history of allergic disease. The group with the CC genotype showed a higher risk of developing AD compared to carriers of CT and TT genotypes when the mother had a history of allergic diseases or was sensitized to Der f.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that the TMEM232 risk allele, in combination with maternal factors, higher the total IgE, which could be a potential risk factor for AD.