title: Genetic polymorphism of interleukin-18 gene promoter region in rheumatoid arthritis patients from southern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pro inflammatory cytokine which plays a key role in the acute and chronic inflammatory phases of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). The Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-18 gene promoter region at positions -137 and -607, are postulated to be associated with RA. To test this, this study aimed to identify the association between these SNPs of the IL-18 gene promoter region of RA in south Indian patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was carried on 190 subjects among which 90 were RA patients and 100 were age and sex matched controls. Genomic DNA was extracted by Salting out method. IL 18 gene promotor region SNPs, IL 18 - 607 and IL 18 -137 were amplified by using sequence specific primers. The amplified products of different samples were separated by using a 1.5% agarose gel, stained with ethidium bromide and photographed. All statistical analyses were carried out by using SYSTAT 12 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At position 607, the frequencies of C allele, CC genotype, A allele and AA genotype were found to be significantly higher in patients and controls respectively and there was no significant difference in CA genotype. At position 137, there was no significant difference between the two groups with regard to G and C allelles but there was a significant increase in GG genotype of patients and CC genotype of controls. There was no association between duration of morning stiffness, rheumatoid factor positivity or negativity, age of onset and gender with distribution of genotypes and alleles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  C allele, CC genotype at position-607 and GG genotype at position-137 are risk factors and A allele, AA genotype at position-607 and CC genotype at position-137 have protective effect for RA.
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Human Genetics, Andhra University , Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Varun Chaithanya
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Gurram
authors.affiliation: Cytogeneticist, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Research & Genetic Lab, MAMC & Associated Lok Nayak Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Sunil Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Polipalli
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Medicine, MAMC , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Vijay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Karra
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Research & Genetic Lab, MAMC & Associated Lok Nayak Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Madhavi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puppala
authors.affiliation: PhD Student, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Research & Genetic Lab, MAMC & Associated Lok Nayak Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Sanjeev Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pandey
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrics Research & Genetic Lab, MAMC & Associated Lok Nayak Hospital , New Delhi, India .
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kapoor
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Medicine, Andhra Medical College , Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Ashok
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Human Genetics, Andhra University , Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India .
authors.forename: Sudhakar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Godi
keywords: Genotype; Interleukin-18; Pro inflammatory cytokine