title: Interleukin-18 gene polymorphism, but not interleukin-2 gene polymorphism, is associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: To investigate whether polymorphisms of IL-2 and IL-18 genes are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polymorphisms of IL-2 and IL-18 genes were detected by polymerase-chain-reaction-based restriction analysis in the patients with RA and normal controls. The results for the IL-18 gene revealed a significant difference between the patients and the normal controls (p = 0.000003), but there was no significant difference for the IL-2 gene (p = 0.876). The IL-18 gene 105A allele was associated with RA in Chinese patients. Individuals possessing the 105A allele had a higher incidence of RA. A lack of association of IL-2 gene polymorphism between RA patients and healthy individuals was noted. The results of this study provide genetic evidence that IL-18-105A/C polymorphism may play an effective role in RA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, No. 2 Yuh Der Road, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Cheng-Chun
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Wei-Yong
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Yuhsin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Ying-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Chang-Hai
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chung-Ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Fuu-Jen
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D007376:Interleukin-2