Consistent with the ideas that IgE-mediated disease is caused by acarian species and HBDs participate in human anti-acarian defense, levels of HBD-1 and -2 are altered in allergic disease (43, 44) and functional mutations in HBD-1 and -2 predispose children to both atopic dermatitis and asthma (45, 46). The gene discussed is IGHE; the disease is allergic disease.