Lack of association between gene polymorphism of transporters associated with antigen processing and allergic rhinitis in a Japanese population.

Gene products of TAP1 and TAP2 (transporters associated with antigen processing) are involved in antigen presentation. It has been reported that polymorphisms in the TAP1 gene are associated with atopy in Tunisians. We designed a case-control study to investigate the potential association of polymorphisms of the TAP1 gene with allergic rhinitis in a Japanese population. We used the amplification refractory mutation system polymerase chain reaction to characterize TAP1 gene polymorphisms in 60 unrelated Japanese patients with allergic rhinitis and 62 healthy control subjects. There was no significant difference in the distribution of TAP1 alleles between the patient group and the control group. These findings suggest that the TAP1 gene is not primarily involved in susceptibility to allergic rhinitis in the Japanese population.