title: TGF-beta1 and IL-6 gene polymorphism in Spanish brucellosis patients.
abstract: Polymorphisms in the cytokine genes have allowed for the understanding of the genetic determinants in several diseases. We investigated the polymorphism of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and IL-6 genes in relation to susceptibility to human brucellosis. We typed 82 Spanish brucellosis patients and 102 healthy controls for TGF-beta1 polymorphisms in codons 10 and 25, and IL-6 promoter polymorphism at position -174 by PCR-SSP methods. The T/T G/G genotype of the TGF-beta1 gene was significantly increased in patients compared to controls (49% vs. 32%) P=0.02; OR=1.99 (1.05-3.80) and the T/C G/G genotype was significantly less common in the patients compared to the controls (32% vs. 49%) P=0.01; OR=0.48 (0.25-0.92). The CC genotype of codon 10 was significantly increased in the patients who had focal forms of the disease as compared with those who did not develop focal forms (19% vs. 4%), P=0.03; OR=0.19 (0.02-1.10). No differences were found in the IL-6 variants between the patients and the controls. These results suggest that polymorphism of the TGF-beta1 gene may be involved in susceptibility to brucellosis and to developing focal forms of the disease in a group of patients from southern Spain.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Service, Carlos Haya Regional University Hospital, Avda. Carlos Haya no 82, 29010 Malaga, Spain.
authors.forename: María José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Juan Dios
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Colmenero
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Queipo-Ortuño
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonso
authors.forename: Abelardo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Caballero
mesh_terms: D002006:Brucellosis / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013030:Spain; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1