Affiliations: Division of Neonatology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo,
Pavia, Italy | Pediatrics Department, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo,
Pavia, Italy | Genetics and Microbiology Department, University of
Pavia, Italy | Immunohematology and Transfusion Service, IRCCS
Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy
Note: [] Corresponding author: De Silvestri Annalisa, Genetics and
Microbiology Department, Via Abbiategrasso 207, 27100 Pavia, Italy. Tel.: +39
0382 503864; Fax: +39 0382 503568; E-mail: a.desilvestri@smatteo.pv.it
Abstract: Aim: We investigated on parental history and IgE serum level in 2588
consecutive newborns to individuate babies "at risk" of atopy at birth and we
analysed the polymorphisms of class III region to evaluate the association with
immunogenetic markers of HLA: C4A, C4B, LTA, RAGE and TNFA genes; we performed
TNF and IgE receptor (FCERB1) physiologically related gene polymorphisms. Result: 791 babies/2588 (30.6%) were considered "at risk"
for atopy and followed-up: 400 had familial history of atopy (at least one
parent or sibling), 256 had IgE >0.35 kUA/l at birth and during the
follow-up and 135 were positive for both conditions. The allele C4B2 was significantly more frequent in the sample of
babies at risk (22.1% vs 10%, p< 0.001). Furthermore, the mean value of
IgE at birth in babies carrying the allele C4B2 was 2.26 KUA/l versus 0.74
KUA/l in those not carrying this allele (p=0.01). No significant association
emerged for RAGE at the centromeric end of class III region and for LTA, TNFA
at the telomeric one. TNFRI, TNFRII and FCERB1 gene polymorphisms also seemed
not implicated. Conclusion: Our study confirms that HLA class III region seems
involved in familial predisposition to atopy, and C4B gene probably acts as a
marker of a more restricted subregion.
