Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene polymorphisms in Italian patients with Behçet's disease.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate potential associations between toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to, clinical features, and severity of Behçet's disease (BD).


METHODS
A total of 189 Italian patients who satisfied the International Study Group criteria for BD and 210 healthy age- and sex-matched blood donors were genotyped for two coding single nucleotide polymorphisms of TLR4 (Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile) by molecular methods. The patients were subgrouped according to the presence or absence of clinical manifestations. Severity score was calculated.


RESULTS
The distribution of allele and genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between the BD patients and the healthy controls. No significant associations were found when BD patients with and those without clinical manifestations were compared. No association between TLR4 polymorphisms and severity score was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that the TLR4 gene polymorphisms are not associated with susceptibility to, clinical expression of, and severity of BD in Italian patients.
Unità di Reumatologia, Arcispedale S Maria Nuova, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
L
L
Boiardi
F
F
Atzeni
B
B
Casali
E
E
Farnetti
D
D
Nicoli
N
N
Pipitone
M G
MG
Catanoso
I
I
Olivieri
F
F
Cantini
F
F
Salvi
R
R
La Corte
G
G
Triolo
D
D
Filippini
G
G
Paolazzi
C
C
Salvarani
D000328:Adult; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4