�Together with colleagues from the Department of Dermatology and Allergy and the Center for Allergy and Environment (ZAUM) of the Technische Universitat Munchen, scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen suffer pinpointed a major factor for allergic diseases. The gene was localized using cutting edge technologies for examining the whole human genome at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen.
Schematic representation of the high affinity sense organ for IgE. Variants within the gene encoding the alpha chain are associated with increased levels of IgE antibodies
The newly discovered FCER1A factor encodes the alpha chain of high affinity IgE receptor, which plays a major part in controlling allergic responses. The team of scientists led by Dr. Stephan Weidinger from the Technische Universit�t M�nchen and Dr. Thomas Illig from the Helmholtz Zentrum M�nchen ground that certain variations of the FCER1A gene decisively influence the production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. IgE antibodies are a particular type of antibody that is normally ill-used to protect against parasites. In Western lifestyle countries with less contact, however, elevated IgE levels ar associated with allergic disorders.
In genetically susceptible individuals the immune system becomes slanted and produces IgE antibodies against harmless agents such as pollen, dust mites or animate being hair. These IgE antibodies then work in conjunction with sealed cells to get free of the allergens, a process that gives lift to the symptoms of allergy such as sensitised rhinitis (hay fever), atopic dermatitis or asthma.
"Most people with allergies are atopic - substance they take a familial tendency to develop allergies. To detect the genetical factors we examined the genomes of more than 10,000 adults and children from the whole of Germany" explained Stephan Weidinger.
Most of the persons examined for the report come from the population studies of the KORA (co-operative wellness research in the Augsburg region) research platform, which is light-emitting diode by Prof. Dr. H.-Erich Wichmann, the Director of the Institute of Epidemiology at the Helmholtz Zentrum M�nchen. The allergological examinations were carried by the Department for Dermatology and Allergy of the Technische Universit�t M�nchen headed by Prof. Dr. Dr. Johannes Ring.
Although in its early stages, the new cognition on the regulation of IgE production does suffer the potential difference to guide the development of new drugs.
Publication:
Weidinger S, Gieger C, Rodriguez E, Baurecht H, Mempel M, et al. (2008) Genome-Wide Scan on Total Serum IgE Levels Identifies FCER1A as Novel Susceptibility Locus. PLoS Genet 4(8): e1000166. interior: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000166
http://www.plosgenetics.org/doi/pgen.1000166
Source: Heinz Joerg Haury
Helmholtz Zentrum M�nchen - German Research Center for Environmental Health
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