Abstract: A method of identifying a subject falling within a new patient population characterised by eosinophil IgE mediated allergic inflammation, involving analysing the level of methylation in a DNA sample obtained from the subject for one or more promoter regions associated with one or more genes. Individuals within this new patient population are expected to be likely to respond to therapies for eosinophil IgE mediated inflammation, such as inhibitors of IL-5, IL-13, IgE or M1 prime activity and other therapies directed towards eosinophils.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for diagnosing an individual as being asthmatic, or of having a predisposition to asthma, and a kit therefor, which method comprises demonstrating in the individual the presence or absence of an unusual variant form of a polynucleotide sequence in the MHC region of chromosome 6p, said unusual variant form being associated with an increased secretion of TNF.