Interleukin-18 gene promoter polymorphisms in women with gestational trophoblastic diseases.
OBJECTIVE
Gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTDs) consist of a spectrum of disorders characterized by an abnormal proliferation of trophoblastic tissue. IL-18 is a pleiotropic cytokine with a capacity for both ThI and Th2 polarization. Considering the association of IL-18 promoter polymorphisms at positions -607 (A/C) and -137 (C/G) with pregnancy events and some cancers, we sought to examine these polymorphisms in Iranian patients with GTD, their association with disease subtypes, and IL-18 serum level.


METHODS
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction in 92 patients with GTDs and 103 healthy pregnant controls. IL-18 serum level was determined using ELISA method.


RESULTS
No significant association was found between the allele, genotype, genotype combination and haplotype distribution of these SNPs and GTDs or its subgroups. Mean IL-18 serum level was significantly higher in patients with choriocarcinoma and pregnant controls compared with nonpregnant controls (p = 0.04, 0.04 and 0.001, respectively). -137 GG genotype pregnant controls had a significantly higher IL-18 serum level compared with CC genotype.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-18 promoter polymorphisms do not confer susceptibility to GTDs or its variants; however, their functional significance is demonstrated in this study. Furthermore, IL-18 serum level increases in GTDs and in normal pregnancy.
Kashef
Mohammad Amin
MA
Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research and the Departments of Obstetric and Gynecology and of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
Dehaghani
Alamtaj Samsami
AS
Naeimi
Sirous
S
Fattahi
Mohammad Javad
MJ
Ghaderi
Abbas
A
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006828:Hydatidiform Mole / Q000235:genetics*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D020382:Interleukin-18