title: The association of interleukin-31 polymorphisms with interleukin-31 serum levels and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Interleukin-31 (IL-31) is the most recently discovered member of the gp130/IL-6 cytokine family which is produced mainly by activated Th2 cells. IL-31 was proved to play a crucial role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as atopic dermatitis, asthma, cutaneous T cell lymphomas, Kawasaki disease and allergic rhinitis. Previous studies have identified that IL-31 could significantly induce the release of proinflammatory cytokines IL-6. Moreover, a large number of studies have shown that IL-6 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, up to date, no study to data was reported on the relationship between IL-31 and SLE. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the association between IL-31 polymorphisms and its serum levels with the risk of SLE in a Chinese population. We analyzed two single nucleotide polymorphisms of IL-31 gene rs7977932 C/G and rs4758680 G/T in 190 patients with SLE and 250 age- and sex-matched controls, using polymerase chain reaction-single base extension and DNA sequencing methods. Soluble IL-31 (sIL-31) levels were measured by ELISA. From this study, we found that there were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-31 gene rs7977932 C/G polymorphism between the group of patients with SLE and the control group (P < 0.05). sIL-31 levels were increased in patients with SLE compared with controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, genotypes carrying the IL-31 rs7977932 G variant allele were associated with increased IL-31 levels compared to the homozygous wild-type genotype in patients with SLE. The rs7977932 C/G polymorphism of IL-31 gene and its sIL-31 levels were associated with SLE in the Chinese population. Our data suggest that IL-31 gene may play a role in the development of SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Hua-Tuo
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China. hhtzyy66@163.com.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China. wcj19900804@sina.com.|Institute of Medical Laboratory, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China. wcj19900804@sina.com.
authors.forename: Ye-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002681:China; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005819:Genetic Markers; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005819:Genetic Markers; C502187:IL31 protein, human; D007378:Interleukins
keywords: Gene; IL-31; Polymorphism; SLE