Interleukin-18/-607 gene polymorphism in allergic rhinitis.
OBJECTIVE
Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease with a genetic background, and IL-18 (formerly IFN-gamma-inducing factor) is a well-known pro-inflammatory cytokine. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the IL-18/-607 promoter polymorphisms were associated with allergic rhinitis in the Korean population.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
Deoxyribonucleic acid was obtained from the blood samples of 160 Korean children with allergic rhinitis and from 166 healthy controls. The IL-18/-607 polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.


RESULTS
The frequency of the AC genotype of the IL-18/-607 gene polymorphism was significantly greater in allergic rhinitis patients than in controls (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The A allele in the IL-18/-607 gene promoter region may be involved in the development of allergic rhinitis in the Korean population.
Lee
Heung-Man
HM
Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Communication Disorder Institute of Medical Science Research Center, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea. lhman@korea.ac.kr
Park
Sook Ah
SA
Chung
Seung-Won
SW
Woo
Jeong Soo
JS
Chae
Sung Won
SW
Lee
Sang Hag
SH
Kang
Hee Joon
HJ
Hwang
Soon Jae
SJ
D000225:Adenine; D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D002648:Child; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D020382:Interleukin-18; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA; D000225:Adenine