title: Association between the interleukin-18 promoter polymorphism and pulmonary tuberculosis in a Korean population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the role of the -667G/T, -618A/C and -148G/C single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter region of the human interleukin (IL) 18 gene in the development of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), and its radiographic characteristics and severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences in the allele and genotype distributions of the -667G/T, -618A/C, and -148G/C polymorphisms between 251 patients with PTB and 225 healthy controls, between patients with single- and multilobe involvement, and between patients with and without cavities were explored.  Serum IL-18 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The -148G/G genotype was more common in patients with cavities than in those without (82.8% vs. 70.9%, P = 0.04), but an analogous trend was not observed for the -667G/T and -618A/C  genotypes. However, there were no significant differences in allele and genotype distributions between patients with PTB and healthy controls, or between patients with single- and multilobe involvement (P > 0.05). Serum IL-18 levels were higher in patients with cavities (P  = 0.01) and in patients with the -148G/G genotype (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering serum IL-18 levels, the -148G/G genotype is associated with a cavitary formation of PTB rather than its development.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: I-H
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Y-K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: H-K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Y M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011859:Radiography; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020382:Interleukin-18