TGF-beta1 and IL-6 gene polymorphism in Spanish brucellosis patients.
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.
Bravo
María José
MJ
Immunology Service, Carlos Haya Regional University Hospital, Avda. Carlos Haya no 82, 29010 Malaga, Spain.
Colmenero
Juan Dios
JD
Queipo-Ortuño
María Isabel
MI
Alonso
Antonio
A
Caballero
Abelardo
A
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*
C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1