ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Human basophils and mast cells play a central role in allergic disease. The beta subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRIbeta) gene is one of the candidate genes for atopy because of its important role in initiating type I allergic reaction in mast cells and basophils. We therefore tested whether Gly237Glu variants of FcepsilonRIbeta are associated with atopy in the Korean population. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Blood samples for genetic analysis were obtained from 175 individuals with allergic rhinitis and from 191 healthy subjects without atopic diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-based assay for FcepsilonRIbeta Glu237Gly was used for genotyping. Serum total IgE levels were determined by using the immunoassay. Eosinophil values were determined by eosinophil numbers per total cell numbers per microliteriter. RESULTS: There were no differences in the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of FcepsilonRIbeta between the controls and patients (p>0.05). Blood eosinophil count and total serum IgE levels were not statistically different in the genotypes of FcepsilonRIbeta in allergic rhinitis (p>0.05). Although statistical significance of genotypes of FcepsilonRIbeta was not observed with respect to gender in allergic rhinitis (p=0.057), mutant genotype was two times more prevalent in male patients than in female patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the FcepsilonRIbeta Glu237Gly polymorphism does not affect the susceptibility of Koreans to allergic rhinitis. But our finding indicates that, males as opposed to females, might be predisposed to have the mutant genotype.