[Cytokine gene polymorphisms in Chinese patients with type I autoimmune hepatitis].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the role of Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) gene polymorphisms in susceptibility to type I autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).


METHODS
We detected 2 polymorphisms in TNF-alpha promoter gene at positions -238 and -308 and 3 polymorphic sites in IL-10 gene promoter at positions -1082, -819, -592 by polymerase chain reaction and dot blot with probes in the patients with 32 type I AIH and 48 health controls.


RESULTS
Genotypes associated with guanine to adenine substitution at position -308 of TNF-alpha promoter gene occurred more commonly in the patients than in health controls (53.1% vs. 27.1%, RR = 3.05, P < 0.01). There is no significant difference in polymorphisms of TNF-alpha gene at position -238 and 3 polymorphic sites in IL-10 promoter gene between patients and health controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Genotypes associated with guanine to adenine substitution at position -308 of TNF-alpha promoter gene (TNF-308A) may involve in the pathogenesis of type I AIH
Ma
Xiong
X
Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200001, China.
Qiu
De-kai
DK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10