CD14: a bridge between innate immunity and adaptive IgE responses

Total IgE levels are known to be under genetic control. Linkage studies have indicated that one or more loci on chromosome 5q may control total IgE, as well as asthma and bronchial hyperresponsiveness to non-specific stimuli. Our group has undertaken a systematic analysis of chromosome 5q, and has recently characterized five single nucleotide polymorphisms at position -1619, -1359, -1145, -809, and -159 in the promoter of the gene encoding CD14, the myeloid pattern recognition receptor that is critical for efficient innate immune responses to lipopolysaccharide and bacterial ligands. Individuals homozygous for the three major CD14 haplotypes found in the Children Respiratory Study population (n = 390) were analyzed for serum levels of total IgE and soluble CD14. A strong inverse correlation was found between these two parameters, i.e. carriers of the -1359T/-1145A/-159C haplotype had the highest levels of IgE, and the lowest levels of sCD14. Conversely, carriers of the -1359G/-1145G/-159T haplotype had the highest levels of sCD14 and the lowest IgE values. Our results suggest that genetic variation in CD14, a key gene of innate immunity, may modulate the effects that exposure to bacterial ligands has on the development of Th2 responses.