HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (9) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Martinez, F. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Martinez, F. D.

Genes, environments, development and asthma: a reappraisal

CORRESPONDENCE: F. D. Martinez, Arizona Respiratory Center, University of Arizona, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ, USA. Fax: 1 5206266623. E-mail: fernando{at}arc.arizona.edu

Keywords: Asthma, development, environment, gene

Received: July 3, 2006
Accepted October 27, 2006

Significant advances have been made in our understanding of the role of genetic variation in determining complex human phenotypes such as asthma. It is now well established that there is no single "gene for asthma", in the way that the cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor is the "gene for cystic fibrosis". It is also clear that among all genetic variants eventually found to be associated with asthma, only a few will be replicated, and in the same direction, in the majority of well-performed studies. Current evidence suggests that most asthma-related polymorphisms determine risk for the disease in a context-dependent manner, i.e. they interact with environmental factors, with polymorphisms in other genes and with the specific developmental phase of the disease in which the association is tested. Elucidating these complex interactions will allow us to understand better the heterogeneity of the disease and thus to develop therapeutic tools tailored to the specific form of the disease in each patient.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Castro, M. I. Ramirez, J. E. Gern, G. Cutting, G. Redding, J. S. Hagood, J. Whitsett, S. Abman, J. U. Raj, R. Barst, et al. Strategic Plan for Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research: An NHLBI Working Group Report Proceedings of the ATS, January 15, 2009; 6(1): 1 - 10. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. L. P. Brand, E. Baraldi, H. Bisgaard, A. L. Boner, J. A. Castro-Rodriguez, A. Custovic, J. de Blic, J. C. de Jongste, E. Eber, M. L. Everard, et al. Definition, assessment and treatment of wheezing disorders in preschool children: an evidence-based approach Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2008; 32(4): 1096 - 1110. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Orsmark-Pietras, E. Melen, J. Vendelin, S. Bruce, A. Laitinen, L. A. Laitinen, R. Lauener, J. Riedler, E. von Mutius, G. Doekes, et al. Biological and genetic interaction between Tenascin C and Neuropeptide S receptor 1 in allergic diseases Hum. Mol. Genet., June 1, 2008; 17(11): 1673 - 1682. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Sharma, J. Batra, U. Mabalirajan, S. Sharma, R. Nagarkatti, J. Aich, S. K. Sharma, P. V. Niphadkar, and B. Ghosh A Genetic Variation in Inositol Polyphosphate 4 Phosphatase A Enhances Susceptibility to Asthma Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., April 1, 2008; 177(7): 712 - 719. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Kauffmann and R. Nadif Candidate interactions Eur. Respir. J., July 1, 2007; 30(1): 3 - 4. [Full Text] [PDF]