Variant CD14 allele linked to atopy in children, but not adults.

2004 APR 12 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- A polymorphism in the CD14 gene increases the risk of atopy development in children, but not in adult carriers.

"CD14 influences postnatal switching of T-helper cell responses," scientists in Australia explained. "CD14 C-159T has been associated with altered CD14 and IgE levels in cross-sectional studies."

"Identifying whether associations vary with age requires data from children of the same age followed longitudinally over many years," noted A.R. O'Donnell and colleagues working at Princess Margaret Hospital in Perth. In their study, an "unselected population with extensive longitudinal data was used to test the …