PHILADELPHIA – Yet another gene has been found to raise the risk of asthma, but only in Europeans and their descendants and not in African Americans.

The study, conducted jointly by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study indicates that variations in the ORMDL3 gene were associated with the onset of childhood asthma, but only among study participants descended from Europeans.

A previous European study had found a similar result with German and British children as test subjects.

Dr. Hakon Hakonarson, study leader, indicated that the research replicated the previous study, while building on the knowledge of the genes associated with asthma. In fact, the US study showed that other genes outside of the ORMDL3 gene might also have a role in raising asthma risk.

This research focused exclusively on childhood-onset asthma.

Asthma is a complex and baffling disease in which both genetics and environment play a part. It is the interaction of both genetic factors and environmental factors that determines who does and does not develop asthma. However, researchers are hoping that better understanding of the genes that affect asthma development will allow scientists to discover new treatments specific to certain gene profiles. Such treatments could lead to personalized treatment plans that increase the efficacy for patients.

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology