title: Cytokine promoter polymorphisms in Taiwanese patients with Graves' disease.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ming-Yuh
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Shiau
authors.forename: Chien-Ning
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Tzi-Peng
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kan-Jen
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chieh-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Yih-Hsin
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha