title: Polymorphisms of the Toll-Like Receptor-3 Gene in Autoimmune Adrenal Failure and Type 1 Diabetes in Polish Patients.
abstract: Infectious agents are plausible environmental triggers for autoimmunity in genetically susceptible individuals. Polymorphic variants of genes implicated in innate immunity may affect immune responses and hence promote auto-aggressive reactions. Genes such as Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3), which participate in recognizing conserved foreign molecules and mounting the first line of defence against viral infections, are promising functional candidates in autoimmune conditions. We investigated the association of the TLR3 variants, rs13126816 and rs3775291, with the autoimmune endocrine disorders, Addison's disease (AD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) in the Polish population. The study comprised 168 AD patients, 524 individuals with T1D and 592 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed by real-time PCR. Distribution of the TLR3 genotypes and alleles did not reveal significant differences between patients and controls (p > 0.05). No effect on age at disease onset was found in affected cohorts. This analysis does not support an association between TLR3 variants and the risk for autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex and beta cells. However, innate immunity merits further studies in autoimmune endocrine conditions.
authors: Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznan, Poland. mfichna@man.poznan.pl.|Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. mfichna@man.poznan.pl.|Department of Clinical Immunology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland. mfichna@man.poznan.pl.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Fichna
authors: Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Żurawek
authors: Department of Paediatric Diabetes and Obesity, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Piotr
authors: P
authors: Fichna
authors: Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Danuta
authors: D
authors: Januszkiewicz-Lewandowska
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Marek
authors: M
authors: Ruchała
authors: Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Strzeszynska 32, 60-479, Poznan, Poland.
authors: Jerzy
authors: J
authors: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000502:physiology*; D000307:Adrenal Gland Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D011044:Poland; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C495344:TLR3 protein, human; D051196:Toll-Like Receptor 3
keywords: Addison’s disease; Polymorphism; TLR3; Type 1 diabetes