Clinical Research Directory

The COX-2 Gene and the Immune System

Background: \- The immune system contains several different types of cells in the blood and other parts of the body. The body can fight infections well with the right balance of these cell types. The wrong balance of cell types may cause diseases, such as allergies or asthma. The COX-2 gene may help decide the balance of cell types that the body makes as part of the immune system. It may also play a role in certain immune system diseases. Researchers want to see how COX-2 affects the cells in the immune system. Objectives: \- To study how the COX-2 gene works in the body s immune system. Eligibility: \- Individuals 18 years of age and above who are part of the Environmental Polymorphisms Registry. Design: * Participants will have one study visit at the National Institutes of Health. They will collect a urine sample at home on the morning of the study visit. * Participants will have a physical exam and medical history. They will provide a blood sample. They will also give researchers the urine sample they collected that morning. * No treatment will be provided as part of this study.

Allergy and Immunology Natural History Study

This protocol is a natural history study designed to evaluate subjects (and some family members) with suspected or identified genetic diseases of allergic inflammation or Immune Dysregulation. Patients determined by clinical history and outside evaluations to be of interest will be consented and enrolled into this study. Blood specimens, stored blood products and derivatives, saliva, hair, fingernail clippings, cord blood, umbilical cord, bone marrow, tissue biopsies and/or buccal swabs from such patients and/or their family members will be obtained for research studies related to understanding genetic and immunopathogenic bases of these diseases. Outside medical records may be obtained, and patient evaluations may be performed to correlate to research laboratory testing results.