HLA-DQB1 and asthma: HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 SNPs and haplotypes have been associated with a higher risk of toluene diisocyanate-induced occupational asthma [27], total serum IgE in Iranian subjects [28], atopy in Northern Chinese [29], Dermatophagoides Spp.-sensitive asthma in Venuezuelan individuals [30], and asthma severity in Whites in the United States [31], suggesting a broad role for these genes in asthma pathogenesis across ethnic groups.