Polymorphisms of IL-1 beta gene in Japanese patients with Sjögren's syndrome and systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin (IL)-1 beta is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in various immune responses. Five polymorphisms in the IL-1 beta gene have been described, and relationships between these polymorphisms and some autoimmune diseases have been reported. Evidence suggests that IL-1 beta may be involved in the destruction of salivary and lacrimal glands in Sjögren's syndrome (SS). We evaluated the significance of IL-1 beta gene polymorphisms in SS.


METHODS
Blood samples were taken from 101 patients with SS, 103 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, excluding those with secondary SS), and 106 healthy volunteers. Each polymorphism of the IL-1 beta gene was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the polymorphic site, followed by site-specific restriction digestion. Genotype frequencies of each polymorphism in SS patients were compared with those of the controls and SLE patients, and differences between primary and secondary SS patients were also compared.


RESULTS
Genotypes CC, TT, and AA in positions -511, -31, and 3877, respectively, were significantly less frequent in SS patients than controls or patients with SLE. No significant differences were found in genotype frequencies of any of the polymorphisms between patients with primary SS and secondary SS.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-1 beta gene polymorphisms may affect susceptibility to SS, but not SLE.
Muraki
Yoshifumi
Y
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
Tsutsumi
Akito
A
Takahashi
Reiko
R
Suzuki
Eiji
E
Hayashi
Taichi
T
Chino
Yusuke
Y
Goto
Daisuke
D
Matsumoto
Isao
I
Murata
Hideyuki
H
Noguchi
Emiko
E
Sumida
Takayuki
T
D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015894:Genome, Human; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D007564:Japan; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
D017931:DNA Primers; D007375:Interleukin-1; D004247:DNA