The gene for the beta-chain of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI beta) has been proposed as a candidate gene for atopy. A coding variant Glu237Gly has been studied in various populations with asthma and atopy, and the results were controversial for association of the variant with atopy/asthma. Because nasal allergy is a more common atopic disease and shows less remission than asthma, we analyzed whether the Glu237Gly variant is correlated with nasal allergy. The study enrolled 233 patients with nasal allergy and 100 control subjects. Further, three subgroups were selected: patients with perennial nasal allergy (n=149), Japanese cedar pollinosis (n=189), and allergy to multiple allergens (n=45). The allele frequency of Gly237 in the controls and patients was 0.14 and 0.20, and the frequency of Gly237-positive subjects was 0.23 and 0.356, respectively. There was a significant association between Gly237-positivity and nasal allergy, perennial nasal allergy, Japanese cedar pollinosis, and allergy to multiple allergens. Among all 333 subjects we observed a significant relationship between Gly237 and elevated levels of serum total IgE (>250 IU/ml) and very high IgE (>1000 IU/ml). Among patients positive for a specific IgE, Gly237 was significantly associated with high IgE for house dust, mite, and Japanese cedar pollen. These results suggest that the Glu237Gly variant of the Fc epsilon RI beta gene is involved in the development of nasal allergy through the process for the production of both specific and nonspecific IgE antibodies.

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Adenovirus is a good tool for transferring exogenous genes into various organs because the virus has a wide spectrum of infection. In this report, we demonstrate that a recombinant adenovirus, Ax1CAlacZ, can transfer an exogenous lacZ gene into murine nasal mucosa in vivo. The efficiency of the exogenous gene expression varied for different cell types and was improved by optimizing the method of administration. In the olfactory region, the olfactory epithelia, sustentacular cells and olfactory nerve efficiently expressed lacZ gene transferred by Ax1CAlacZ using either of two administration methods, dripping or injecting. In contrast, in the respiratory region, the respiratory epithelia but not the subepithelial tissues expressed lacZ gene transferred by Ax1CAlacZ, and the efficiency of the gene transfer, which was low when the virus was administered by nasal drops, was improved when the virus was administered by injection. Our study demonstrated that gene transfer mediated by adenovirus is more efficient in the olfactory epithelia than in the respiratory epithelia, and may be applicable to nasal or paranasal diseases such as olfactory epithelial disturbances.

The A3243G mutation of the mitochondrial gene is a cause of maternally inherited diabetes and deafness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency and clinical features of this mutation in patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in otorhinolaryngic clinics. The frequency of the A3243G mutation in 230 patients with SNHL was 1.74% (4/230). Three of the four patients had diabetes mellitus (DM) and were already aware that they had the mutation. The other had cardiomyopathy but not DM, and proved to have the mutation in this study. The frequency of the mutation was 12.9% (4/31) in patients with a family history of possible maternal inheritance of SNHL, 10.3% (3/29) in patients with DM, and 50% (3/6) in patients with both. The age of onset of SNHL in these patients and their families was between their teens and their forties. The chance of diagnosing the A3243G mutation in patients with SNHL in otorhinolaryngic clinics is probably less than 1%. Association of DM, cardiomyopathy, a family history of possible maternal inheritance of SNHL, and an onset of SNHL between the teens and the forties are signs suggesting the mutation. These signs provide us with a reason for genetic testing for the mutation.

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