title: Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) Gene Polymorphism with Inflammation and Cellular Cytotoxicity in Vitiligo Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vitiligo is a disorder with profound heterogeneity in its aetio-pathophysiology. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) plays an important role in the physiology of the vasculature, blood pressure and inflammation. An insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene was reported be associated with the development of vitiligo.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to evaluate the ACE I/D polymorphism in vitiligo patients and controls. Our second aim was to find a possible association between ACE gene polymorphism and inflammatory mediators (as interleukin (IL)-6) and/or cellular cytotoxicity induced by serum nitrite (as a breakdown product of the cytotoxic nitric oxide) in vitiligo patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study included 74 vitiligo patients and 75 apparently healthy controls. The distribution of ACE gene I/D genotype was investigated using PCR. Serum ACE, IL-6 and nitrite were measured by colorimetric method, ELISA and Griess assay respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ACE allele frequency was significantly different between vitiligo patients and healthy controls (P = 0.026). However there was no significant difference between the ACE genotyping frequency in both groups (P = 0.115). There were statistically significant higher VIDA score (P = 0.007), and serum IL-6 (P < 0.001) in patients with the DD genotype when compared to other genotypes. Serum nitrite in patients with the DD genotype was significantly higher (P = 0.007) when compared to patients with II genotype. Serum levels of ACE, IL-6 and nitrite in vitiligo patients were statistically significantly higher than those in controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a conclusion, ACE gene polymorphism might grant susceptibility to develop vitiligo. Serum IL-6 and nitrite levels might have an important role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo. Targeting these two factors might have an implication in the treatment of some resistant cases.
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Laila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rashed
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abdel Hay
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rania
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Nermeen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hasan
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zahra
authors.affiliation: Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Salwa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fayez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D054643:INDEL Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014820:Vitiligo / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009573:Nitrites; C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A