title: Interleukin-18/-607 gene polymorphism in allergic rhinitis.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Heung-Man
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sook Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung-Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jeong Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Sung Won
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Sang Hag
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hee Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Soon Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D003596:Cytosine; D004247:DNA; D000225:Adenine