title: Interleukin-18 gene promoter polymorphisms in women with gestational trophoblastic diseases.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Shiraz Institute for Cancer Research and the Departments of Obstetric and Gynecology and of Immunology, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kashef
authors.forename: Alamtaj Samsami
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Dehaghani
authors.forename: Sirous
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naeimi
authors.forename: Mohammad Javad
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fattahi
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghaderi
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18