Cytokine promoter polymorphisms in Taiwanese patients with Graves' disease.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to examine the association between promoter polymorphisms of Th1 and Th2 cytokine genes [interleukin-4 (IL-4 T-34C, A-81G, C-285T and T-589C), IL-6 (G-174C), IL-10 (A-592C and T-819C) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha G-238A and G-308A)] and Graves' disease (GD) in Taiwanese population.


METHODS
Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells of 137 GD patients and 189 control subjects. Cytokine gene polymorphisms were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism.


RESULTS
Genotype frequencies of TNF-alpha G-238A or G-308A between control and GD subjects were significantly different. Frequencies of the high TNF-alpha secreting alleles (-238*A and -308*A) and IL-10 -819*C allele were significantly increased in GD patients. No significant differences regarding IL-4 or IL-6 gene polymorphisms between GD patients and control subjects were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data demonstrated that TNF-alpha G-238A and G-308A genotypes were strongly associated with GD incidence.
Shiau
Ming-Yuh
MY
Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Huang
Chien-Ning
CN
Yang
Tzi-Peng
TP
Hwang
Yi-Ching
YC
Tsai
Kan-Jen
KJ
Chi
Chieh-Ju
CJ
Chang
Yih-Hsin
YH
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013624:Taiwan; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha