Susceptibility to primary Epstein-Barr virus infection is associated with interleukin-10 gene promoter polymorphism.
In total, 116 children were investigated to determine whether the interleukin (IL)-10 polymorphism influences the age at primary Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. The promoter of IL-10 is polymorphic, with 3 known single base substitutions (G/A at -1082, C/T at -819, and C/A at -592), which form 3 haplotypes: GCC, ACC, and ATA. This study found that carriage of the ATA haplotype protects against early EBV infection. The presence of the ATA haplotype was associated with EBV seronegativity (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-6.7; P=.04), when controlled by age. To examine the effect of haplotypes on IL-10 production, IL-10 plasma levels were measured in 50 newborns and 400 adults and were correlated with the IL-10 haplotype. The IL-10 levels were significantly higher in the ATA carriers than in the noncarriers. These data suggest that the IL-10 ATA haplotype confers protection against primary EBV infection and that the effect is mediated by high IL-10 levels.
Helminen
M E
ME
Department of Pediatrics, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland. merja.helminen@tays.fi
Kilpinen
S
S
Virta
M
M
Hurme
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003062:Codon / Q000235:genetics; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017354:Point Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D003062:Codon; D016753:Interleukin-10