Of the remaining replicated CNVs, two affect genes also residing in the HLA: a partial deletion of the large, central exon of MUC22, and a small deletion within the 3’UTR of TAP2. Genetic variants in the MUC22 gene region [21, 22] and in TAP2 [2] have been previously associated with asthma and asthma-related traits. Here, MUC22 is linked to asthma.