Background: The beta chain of high-affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRI beta) has been proposed as a candidate gene for asthma and atopic diseases.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence of the E237G polymorphism of the FcepsilonRI beta gene and to investigate its association with asthma and total IgE levels in 3 Asian populations.
Methods: A total of 291 asthmatic patients (141 Chinese, 68 Malay, and 82 Indian) and 355 asymptomatic blood donors (157 Chinese, 100 Malay, and 98 Indian) were recruited. The E237G genotype was determined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. Total serum IgE level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: The G allele was more common in Chinese controls (17.9%) than in Malay (11.5%) (P = .05) and Indian (9.2%) (P = .01) controls. Genotypes with the G allele were more prevalent in asthmatic patients in the Chinese population (odds ratio, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.77; P = .04).
Conclusions: There were interethnic differences in the frequencies of the G variant among Chinese, Malay, and Indian populations. The E237G polymorphism of FcsRI beta may be a risk factor for asthma in the Chinese population.