Filaggrin gene mutation associations with peanut allergy persist despite variations in peanut allergy diagnostic criteria or asthma status

Recently, our research team found a strong and significant association between loss-of-function (LOF) mutations in filaggrin (FLG), a gene that encodes a skin barrier protein, in European and Canadian individuals with peanut allergy (PA).1 These mutations result in a barrier defect and have been associated with atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis.2 This finding represents the strongest genetic risk factor found to date for PA, a highly heritable disease,3 with an estimated odds ratio (OR) between 1.9 (Canadian) and 5.3 (English, Dutch, and Irish combined).