title: Associations of TNFα -308G>A, TNFα -238G>A, IL-1α -889C>T and IL-10 -1082G>A Genetic Polymorphisms with Atopic Diseases: Asthma, Rhinitis and Dermatitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymorphisms of cytokine genes are an interesting focus for association studies involving atopic diseases due to their role in immune cell communications during inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of TNFα -308G>A, TNFα -238G>A, IL-1α -889C>T and IL-10 -1082G>A polymorphisms with atopic diseases with adjustment for confounding lifestyle and environmental factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed on 356 Croatian students. The diagnosis of atopic asthma, atopic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis was based on symptoms reported by the modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaire and a positive skin prick test (SPT) to at least one common inhalatory allergen. Genetic polymorphisms were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction-based technique. The influence of personal (gender, body mass index, parental history of atopic disease), lifestyle (cigarette smoking, pet ownership) and environmental (urban/rural residency, residency in continental/Mediterranean region) factors reported in the questionnaire was investigated by univariate and multivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to the control subjects, univariate analysis showed a significant negative association of the TNFα -308G>A polymorphism with atopic asthma, atopic dermatitis, asthma and skin symptoms and positive SPT. These observations were confirmed in a multivariate model only for atopic dermatitis and skin symptoms (atopic dermatitis: OR = 0.27; 95% CI 0.07-1.00; p = 0.050; skin symptoms: OR = 0.29; 95% CI 0.10-0.83; p = 0.021).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate a protective role of TNFα -308G>A genetic polymorphisms regarding atopic dermatitis and skin symptoms even after controlling for personal, lifestyle and environmental factors. Further studies are needed to elucidate the molecular patterns of this association in atopic dermatitis and other chronic inflammatory skin disorders.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Željka
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Babić
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sabolić Pipinić
authors.forename: Veda Marija
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Varnai
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kežić
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics*; D053582:Interleukin-1alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D012882:Skin Tests; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053582:Interleukin-1alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10