Polymorphisms in the IL-13 and IL-4 receptor alpha genes and allergic rhinitis

The IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) and IL-13 genes are candidate genes in atopic diseases. The IL-4R alpha chain and IL-13 promoter polymorphisms are gain-of-function mutations associated with atopy. We tested whether polymorphisms in the IL-4R alpha chain and the coding region of the IL-13 gene are associated with allergic rhinitis in a Korean population. Polymerase chain reaction-based assays for IL-4R alpha Gln551Arg and IL-13 exon 4 G2044A were used for genotyping. There were no differences in the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of IL-4R alpha between the controls and patients. The frequency of the IL-13 exon 4 2044A allele was statistically different between the controls and patients. Our results suggest that the IL-13 exon 4 G2044A polymorphism confers susceptibility to the development of allergic rhinitis in Koreans, whereas the IL-4R alpha Gln551Arg polymorphism is not related to allergic rhinitis.