A genetic component to asthma and atopy has long been suggested by studies that demonstrate increased prevalence among first-degree relatives of affected individuals and greater concordance rates among monozygotic compared with dizygotic twins (reviewed in reference <sup>72 Meyers D.A., Marsh D.G. Allergy and asthma Allergy and asthma New York: Oxford University Press (1992).  130

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références</sup>). Such “clustering” in families is consistent with a genetic cause but may also reflect the effects of shared environmental exposures. As a result, familial clustering does not prove a genetic cause. Although segregation analyses in families with asthma and atopy have provided additional support for a genetic component to these common disorders, <sup>7 Blumenthal M.N., Namboodiri K., Mendell N. , et al. Genetic transmission of serum IgE levels Am J Med Genet 1981 ;  10 : 219  [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références, 35 Gerrard J.W., Rao D.C., Morton N.E. A genetic study of immunoglobulin E Am J Hum Genet 1978 ;  30 : 46

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références, 62 Marsh D.G., Bias W.B., Ishizaka K. Genetic control of basal serum immunoglobulin E level and its effect on specific reaginic sensitivity Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 1974 ;  71 : 3588  [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références, 66 Martinez F.D., Graves P.E., Baldini M. , et al. Association between genetic polymorphisms of the β₂-adrenergic receptor and response to albuterol in children with and without a history of wheezing J Clin Invest 1997 ;  100 : 3184  [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références, 70 McGraw D.W., Forbes S.L., Kramer L.A. , et al. Polymorphisms of the 5′ leader cistron of the human β2-adrenergic receptor regulate receptor expression J Clin Invest 1998 ;  102 : 1927  [cross-ref]

Cliquez ici pour aller à la section Références</sup> direct evidence that susceptibility is genetically determined requires identifying the specific genes that confer susceptibility to asthma and atopy. This article reviews the status of the genetic studies of asthma and atopy by focusing on the chromosomal regions that have shown evidence of linkage to these phenotypes in multiple data sets from independent studies.