Association between angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism and childhood allergic rhinitis in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) play a role in inactivating bradykinin and tachykinins. Bradykinin and tachykinins are potent mediators of inflammatory reaction. An insertion/deletion polymorphism of the ACE gene has been shown to be associated with serum ACE levels. We hypothesized that ACE polymorphism might play a role in allergic rhinitis development. METHODS: Seventy five children aged 6-13 years with atopic allergic rhinitis and 66 age- and gender-matched healthy children were studied. ACE genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. Serum total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and allergen-specific IgE levels were also measured. RESULTS: The frequencies of the DD and non-DD genotypes, and of the II and non-II genotypes did not differ significantly between healthy children and allergic rhinitis children (chi-squared test, p=1.000 and 0.438, respectively). There was no association of ACE genotype and mean IgE levels in rhinitis children or healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that polymorphism of the ACE gene is unrelated to the development of allergic rhinitis, the duration of allergic rhinitis, serum IgE levels, and allergen-specific IgE in Taiwanese children.