Abstract: The present invention concerns a method of testing a subject thought to have or be predisposed to having asthma, allergy, atopic disease or atopic sensitization, which comprises the step of analyzing a biological sample from said subject for (i) detecting the presence of a mutation associated with the over-expression of the ORMDL3 gene, and/or (ii) analyzing the expression of the ORMDL3 gene; a use, for treating and/or preventing asthma, allergy, atopic disease or atopic sensitization in a subject, of a compound which specifically inhibits the expression of the ORMDL3 gene; and an in vitro method of selecting a compound, which can be useful for treating asthma, allergy, atopic disease or atopic sensitization, characterized in that said method comprises the steps of: (a) obtaining a cell expressing the ORMDL3 gene, (b) contacting said cell with at least one compound, (c) comparing the expression of the ORMDL3 gene in the cell between the steps a) and b), and (d) selecting the compound, which induces a lower le

Abstract: The invention relates to the localisation of genetic factors associated with dermal inflammation and immunity to particular regions of the human genome. In particular, there are described methods of determining the genetic susceptibility of an individual to disease conditions involving dermal inflammation and immunity, especially but not exclusively atopic dermatitis, methods for the identification of polymorphic alleles which confer susceptibility to conditions involving dermal inflammation and immunity and methods for the identification of a human genes which contribute to or are responsible for the manifestation of disease conditions involving dermal inflammation and immunity.