CX3CR1 Polymorphisms are associated with atopy but not asthma in German children

Chemokines and their receptors are involved in many aspects of
immunity. Chemokine CX3CL1, acting via its receptor CX3CR1,
regulates monocyte migration and macrophage differentiation as well
as T cell-dependent inflammation. Two common, nonsynonymous
polymorphisms in CX3CR1 have previously been shown to alter the
function of the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 pathway and were suggested to modify
the risk for asthma. Using matrix-assisted laser
desorption/ionization time-of-flight technology, we genotyped
polymorphisms Val249Ile and Thr280Met in a cross-sectional
population of German children from Munich (n = 1,159) and Dresden (
n = 1,940). For 249Ile an odds ratio of 0.77 (95% confidence
interval 0.63-0.96; p = 0.017) and for 280Met an odds ratio of 0.71
( 95% confidence interval 0.56-0.89; p = 0.004) were found with
atopy in Dresden but not in Munich. Neither polymorphism was
associated with asthma. Thus, amino acid changes in CX3CR1 may
influence the development of atopy but not asthma in German
children. Potentially, other factors such as environmental effects
may modify the role of CX3CR1 polymorphisms. Copyright (c) 2007 S.
Karger AG, Basel.