title: Association of interleukin (IL)-4 gene intron 3 VNTR polymorphism with multiple sclerosis in Turkish population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Genetic risk factors are known to contribute to the etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Interleukin (IL)-4 gene polymorphisms have been associated with immune-mediated diseases. The aim of this study was to explore the frequency of IL-4 gene intron 3 VNTR (variable number tandem repeat) polymorphism in a cohort of Turkish patients with MS.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 125 patients with MS and 160 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was isolated and genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses for the IL-4 gene intron 3 VNTR polymorphism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of IL-4 gene intron 3 VNTR polymorphism was statistically different between MS patients and control group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.002, respectively). There were no statistically significant association between IL-4 VNTR polymorphism and clinical and demographical characteristics of MS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that intron 3 VNTR polymorphism of the IL-4 gene was positively associated with predisposition to develop MS in Turkish population.
authors.affiliation: Gaziosmanpasa University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Tokat, Turkey. nevinbalci@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karakus
authors.forename: Serbulent
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yigit
authors.forename: Gulsum Semiha
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Kurt
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cevik
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ates
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D007438:Introns / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats / Q000235:genetics*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014421:Turkey
chemical_list: D015847:Interleukin-4