title: Interleukin-18 and IL18 -607A/C and -137G/C gene polymorphisms in patients with penicillin allergy.
abstract: This study investigated the association between polymorphisms (-607A/C and -137G/C) in the promoter region of the IL18 gene (which encodes interleukin [IL]-18) and serum levels of IL-18, using standard genotyping techniques (sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, in patients allergic to penicillin. A higher frequency of A alleles and the AA genotype was found at position -607A/C in patients allergic to penicillin than in control subjects. For the -137G/C position, the C allele was more frequent in patients allergic to penicillin than in control subjects. Haplotype analysis showed that the -607A/-137C haplotype was more frequent in patients allergic to penicillin than in control subjects. The patients had a significantly higher serum IL-18 level than the control subjects. In conclusion, IL18 -607A/C and -137G/C promoter polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to penicillin allergy. In particular, the -137G/C position appears to play an important role in IL18 expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: H-L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Z-M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D010406:Penicillins / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18; D010406:Penicillins