Novel genetic association of Wegener's granulomatosis with the interleukin 10 gene.
OBJECTIVE
Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a necrotizing vasculitis characterized by clonal expansions of T cells and production of antibodies against proteinase 3. The disease is associated with expanded dinucleotide repeats in the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) gene, suggesting that genetic variation(s) in T cell related gene(s) could contribute to the T cell hyperactivity in WG. We investigated the polymorphisms in the genes of 2 cytokines, interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-10, which are essential for the polarization of T cells towards Th2 development and for the Ig production by B cells.


METHODS
Polymorphisms in the genes coding for IL-10 and IL-4 were analyzed in 32-36 Swedish Caucasian patients and 109 ethnically matched healthy individuals.


RESULTS
There was no association with the IL-4 gene. A CA repeat polymorphism in IL-10 gene, IL-10.G, was associated with the disease. This polymorphism has earlier been associated with high autoantibody production.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicate that the IL-10 gene may influence the disease, perhaps by influencing the production of autoantibodies.
Zhou
Yihua
Y
Immunological Research Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Giscombe
Ricardo
R
Huang
Deren
D
Lefvert
Ann Kari
AK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D004247:DNA