Effects of TMEM232 Variant on Infant Atopic Dermatitis According to Maternal Factors

<b>Background:</b> Atopic dermatitis (AD) is caused by interactions between genetic susceptibility and environmental factors. Transmembrane protein 232 (<i>TMEM232</i>) is one of the genes strongly implicated in AD. <b>Methods:</b> In the present study, we aimed to investigate the association between AD with variants within <i>TMEM232</i> based on maternal factors, including a history of allergic diseases, and sensitization to Der f. We performed a candidate gene association study involving the Cohort for Childhood Origins of Asthma and Allergic Diseases. <b>Results:</b> A single variant of the <i>TMEM232</i> gene, rs17132261, was found to be significantly associated with AD. Subjects carrying the wild-type allele (C) of rs17132261 had higher total IgE than those carrying the variant rs17132261 (T). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed a statistically significant association between <i>TMEM232</i> gene polymorphism and an increased risk of AD in one-year-old infants. Moreover, rs17132261 was associated with increased total IgE in infants with a maternal history of allergic disease. The group with the CC genotype showed a higher risk of developing AD compared to carriers of CT and TT genotypes when the mother had a history of allergic diseases or was sensitized to Der f. <b>Conclusions:</b> Our findings demonstrate that the <i>TMEM232</i> risk allele, in combination with maternal factors, higher the total IgE, which could be a potential risk factor for AD.