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The Minnesota COME/ROM Family Study

Fernando Segade, PhD; Kathleen A. Daly, PhD; Dax Allred, BA; Pamela J. Hicks, BA; Miranda Cox, MS; Mark Brown, MS; Rachel E. Hardisty-Hughes, PhD; Steve D. M. Brown, PhD; Stephen S. Rich, PhD; Donald W. Bowden, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2006;132:729-733.

Objective  The FBXO11 gene is the human homologue of the gene mutated in the novel deaf mouse mutant jeff (Jf), a single gene model of otitis media. We have evaluated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the FBXO11 gene for association with chronic otitis media with effusion/recurrent otitis media (COME/ROM).

Design  A total of 13 SNPs were genotyped across the 98.7 kilobases of genomic DNA encompassing FBXO11. Data were analyzed for single SNP association using generalized estimating equations, and haplotypes were evaluated using Pedigree Disequilibrium Test methods.

Patients  The Minnesota COME/ROM Family Study, a group of 142 families (619 subjects) with multiple affected individuals with COME/ROM.

Main Outcome Measures  Genetic association of COME/ROM with polymorphisms in FBXO11.

Results  The FBXO11 SNPs are contained in a single linkage disequilibrium haplotype block. Ten of the 13 SNPs were sufficiently polymorphic in the sample to permit analysis. In univariate genetic analysis, 1 reference SNP (hereinafter rs) (rs2134056) showed nominal evidence of association to COME/ROM (P = .02), and 2 SNPs approached significance (rs2020911, P = .06; rs3136367, P = .09). In multivariable analyses, including known risk factors for COME/ROM (sex, exposure to smoking, attending day care centers, no prior breastfeeding, and having allergies), the evidence of independent association was reduced for each SNP (eg, rs2134056, from P = .02 to P = .08). In subsequent analyses using the Pedigree Disequilibrium Test, the association of FBXO11 SNP rs2134056 (P = .06) with COME/ROM was confirmed. Incorporating multiple SNPs in 2- and 3-locus SNP haplotypes, those haplotypes containing rs2134056 also exhibited evidence of association of FBXO11 and COME/ROM (P values ranging from .03 to .10).

Conclusion  We have observed evidence consistent with an association between polymorphisms in FBXO11, the human homologue of the Jeff mouse model gene, and COME/ROM.

Author Affiliations: Departments of Internal Medicine (Drs Segade and Bowden), Public Heath Sciences (Ms Cox, Mr Brown, and Dr Rich), and Biochemistry (Mr Allred, Ms Hicks, and Dr Bowden), and Center for Human Genomics (Drs Segade and Bowden, Mr Allred, and Ms Hicks), Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC; Department of Otolaryngology and Otitis Media Research Center, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, (Dr Daly); and Medical Research Council, Mammalian Genetics Unit (Drs Hardisty-Hughes and Brown), Harwell, England.