Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist allele (IL1RN*2) associated with nephropathy in diabetes mellitus.
We have previously found association between an allele of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist gene (IL1RN) and several inflammatory diseases, where IL-1 has been implicated in the inflammatory mechanism. We have now, therefore, tested the association of this specific allele (IL1RN*2) with complications of diabetes which have an inflammatory tissue component. We have tested the allele frequency of IL1RN*2 in 128 patients with insulin-dependent and 125 with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). There was a significant association between carriage of IL1RN*2 and diabetic nephropathy (P<0.001, Pcorrected<0.0012). The association was significant in both types of diabetes, but the observed increase was highest in NIDDM, rising to double the control levels. It appears that IL1RN*2 is a novel genetic marker of severity of inflammatory complications of diseases rather than a marker of disease susceptibility. If the DNA polymorphism is associated with altered gene function, new therapeutic interventions may be possible.
Blakemore
A I
AI
Department of Medicine, University of Sheffield, UK.
Cox
A
A
Gonzalez
A M
AM
Maskil
J K
JK
Hughes
M E
ME
Wilson
R M
RM
Ward
J D
JD
Duff
G W
GW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*
D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1