Association of a lymphotoxin-alpha gene polymorphism and atopic asthma in Taiwanese children
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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

Candidate Gene Testing in Clinical Cohort Studies with Multiplexed Genotyping and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 21, 2018
Szu-Chao Huang1, Wen-Jun Wu, Hai-Lun Sun
1Division of Allergy, Asthma and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Background:
The lymphotoxin-alpha (LT-alpha) gene is located on chromosome 6 (6p21.1-6p21.3) and it may regulate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production. TNF is a potent cytokine in the airway inflammatory response. Polymorphisms of TNF-associated genes have been related to asthma. This study investigated an LT-alpha-Ncol polymorphism in the first intron of the LT-alpha gene (LT-alpha-Ncol*1 allele, as a variant type; and LT-alpha-Ncol*2 allele), which may predispose individuals to asthma and atopy.
Methods:
Polymerase chain reaction-based assays were performed to determine LT-alpha-Ncol genotypes among our subjects. A genetic case control analysis was then performed on 114 atopic asthmatic and 155 non-asthmatic unrelated children.
Results:
There was a statistically higher frequency of LT-alpha-Ncol*1 allele carriers (1/1+1/2) in the subjects with atopic asthma than in controls (OR=1.923; 95% CI = 1.061-3.484; p = 0.031).
Conclusion:
The results indicate that LT-alpha-Ncol*1 may be a risk factor for atopic asthma in Taiwanese children.
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