ADAM33 genetic polymorphisms and risk of atopic dermatitis among Japanese children

ObjectivesADAM33, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 33, gene has been identified as an asthma susceptibility gene. The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ADAM33 and atopic dermatitis (AD) in Japanese children was examined using case-control design.MethodsSeven SNPs of ADAM33 (rs2853209, rs2787094, rs2280091, rs2280090, rs628977, rs597980, and rs528557) were analyzed in 140 AD cases and 258 controls aged 3 years.ResultsOnly rs2853209 (T > A) was significantly associated with AD risk. Sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the AA versus the TT genotype was 0.55 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.30–0.997). Consistent with the results of genotyping analysis, a haplotype carrying rs2853209 A allele was significantly associated with decreased risk of AD compared to all the other haplotypes combined (OR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.08–0.69).ConclusionThis is the first study to provide evidence for an association of the ADAM33 polymorphism with AD risk but the strength of this evidence is limited by our small sample size.