title: Is there any correlation between HLA-DR expression in laryngeal mucosa and interleukin gene variation in sudden infant death syndrome?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mucosal immune system and cytokines are activated in a large proportion of cases of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Our aim was to search for a possible association between cytokine polymorphisms and immune stimulation of the laryngeal mucosal in SIDS.
  
  
  METHODS
  HLA-DR expression in laryngeal mucosal glands and surface epithelium in 97 SIDS victims was evaluated applying a semi-quantitative scoring system. The findings were related to cytokine gene polymorphisms as well as to the level of various cytokines in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). A risk score was established: a score of 0 prepresenting negative HLA-DR, supine position and no fever prior to death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IL-6 -176CG/CC genotype was found in 92.3% of the SIDS cases with positive score for all risk factors (p = 0.01). Infants with high HLA-DR score had high levels of IL-6 in the cerebrospinal fluid (>30 μg/L) (p = 0.005). Furthermore, the IL-8 SNPs -781 CT/TT genotypes and -251 AA/AT genotypes were observed in 93% of the SIDS cases with one or more of the risk factors present compared with SIDS cases no risk factors reported (p = 0.003 and p = 0.016, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study adds further evidence to the hypothesis that there are genetically associated disturbances of immunological homoeostasis in SIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Pathology and clinical Forensic Medicine, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. linda.ferrante@fhi.uio.no
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ferrante
authors.forename: Siri H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Opdal
authors.forename: Ashild
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vege
authors.forename: Torleiv O
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Rognum
mesh_terms: D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007378:Interleukins / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000235:genetics*; D007820:Laryngeal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D016684:Prone Position; D012307:Risk Factors; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D007378:Interleukins