title: Comparison of two polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 gene family: interleukin-1 receptor antagonist polymorphism contributes to susceptibility to severe sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the allele frequencies and genotype distribution of an interleukin (IL)-1beta TaqI polymorphism and an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist polymorphism are associated with susceptibility to and outcome of severe sepsis. In addition, we analyze a possible linkage disequilibrium between a previously described NcoI polymorphism within the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) locus and the two IL-1 gene family polymorphisms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, consecutive entry study of patients with diagnosis of severe sepsis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Intensive care unit (ICU) of a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three patients with diagnosis of severe sepsis admitted to the ICU between June 1993 and June 1996.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The polymorphic region within intron 2 of the IL-1ra gene containing variable numbers of a tandem repeat of 86 base pairs was amplified by means of the polymerase chain reaction. Alleles A1-5 are identified according to the size of the amplified DNA product. The region that contains the biallelic TaqI site within exon 5 of the IL-1beta gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and subsequent digestion using the TaqI restriction enzyme. A NcoI TNF-beta polymorphism was determined. The allele frequency of the allele IL-1raA2 was increased in 93 patients with severe sepsis compared with normal individuals (p < .01). No association with patients' outcome was observed. Allele frequencies or genotype distribution of the IL-1beta TaqI polymorphism did not differ between patients and controls. In addition, the allele TNFB2 of the NcoI TNF-beta polymorphism was associated with nonsurvival. Occurrence of the TNFB1 and TNFB2 alleles and genotypes was unrelated to alleles and genotypes of the two IL-1 gene family polymorphisms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In contrast to the TNF-beta NcoI polymorphism, which has been associated with patients' nonsurvival, the allele IL-1raA2 of the polymorphism within the intron 2 of IL-1ra may contribute to susceptibility to sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University of Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: X M
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schröder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hoeft
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stüber
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha