ISSN:
1365-2222
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Background IL-18 has been shown to exert anti-allergic or allergy-promoting activities, but the existence of genetic polymorphisms in the coding regions of IL-18 gene has not been demonstrated.Objective The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphism is present in the coding regions of the IL-18 gene and, if so, to further analyse the association between polymorphism and asthma in a case–control study.Methods We screened the coding regions of the IL-18 gene for polymorphisms by using PCRsingle-stranded conformation polymorphism and direct sequencing of PCR products, followed by analysis of the association between polymorphism and asthma.Results We identified one polymorphism (105A/C) in the coding regions. The frequency of the 105A allele was significantly higher in asthmatic patients than in controls (P〈0.01; odds ratio (OR)=1.83 (1.37–2.26)). Significant linkage disequilibrium was observed between the 105A/C and −137G/C polymorphisms in the 5′ flanking region of the IL-18 gene (D=0.58, P〈0.0001). However, in asthmatic patients the 105A allele was not associated with either total serum IgE or IL-18 levels.Conclusion The 105A/C polymorphism of the IL-18 gene may be associated with the pathogenesis of asthma.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2222.2003.01739.x
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