title: Correlation of a polymorphism in the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene with hepatic fibrosis in Japanese alcoholics.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any association between interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL1-Ra) genotype and alcoholic liver disease. The IL1-Ra genotype was assessed in 102 Japanese male alcoholic liver disease patients and 46 healthy subjects by polymerase chain reaction with leukocyte DNA. The distribution of IL1-Ra genotype and the allelic frequencies in Japanese healthy subjects are both significantly different from that previously reported in Caucasians (A1/A1 genotype: 95.7% in Japanese vs. 54.0% in Caucasians, p < 0.001; A1 allele: 97.8% vs. 73.4%, p < 0.001). The frequency of A1 heterozygotes tended to be higher in Japanese alcoholics with fibrosis, compared with those without fibrosis (14.9% vs. 2.9%). Furthermore, within the fibrotic groups, cumulative alcohol intake was significantly lower in A1 heterozygotes than in the A1 homozygotes (877 +/- 118 kg vs. 1369 +/- 90 kg,p < 0.05). In conclusion, a genetic polymorphism in the IL1-Ra gene may influence the risk of developing hepatic fibrosis in Japanese alcoholics. The same study should be conducted in Caucasian patients having more frequency of IL1-Ra A1 heterozygotes.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takamatsu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maezawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohata
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saitoh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Toda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007564:Japan; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins