title: Association of Gene Polymorphisms in Interleukin 6 in Infantile Bronchial Asthma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genetic background of bronchial asthma is complex, and it is likely that multiple genes contribute to its development both directly and through gene-gene interactions. Cytokines contribute to different aspects of asthma, as they determine the type, severity and outcomes of asthma pathogenesis. Allergic asthmatics undergoing an asthmatic attack exhibit significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukins and chemokines. In recent years, cytokines and their receptors have been shown to be highly polymorphic, and this prompted us to investigate interleukin 6 promoter polymorphisms at position -174G/C (rs1800795) and at -572G/C (rs1800796) in relation to asthma in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Interleukin 6 promoter polymorphisms were analyzed in bronchial asthma patients and healthy children using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We observed a significant association between polymorphism at -174G/C and bronchial asthma (OR=3.4, 95% CI: 2.045-5.638, P<.001). Higher associations between polymorphism at IL-6 -174G/C and bronchial asthma were observed in atopic patients (OR=4.1, 95% CI: 2.308-7.280, P<8.10-7).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interleukin 6 polymorphism is associated with bronchial asthma, particularly its atopic phenotype. Expression and secretion of interleukins in asthmatic patients may be affected by genetic polymorphisms, and could have a disease-modifying effect in the asthmatic airway and modify the therapeutic response.
authors.affiliation: Department de Medical Biochemistry, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty de Medicine in Martin, Eslovaquia; Department de Neurology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty de Medicine in Martin, Biomedical Centre Martin, Eslovaquia. Electronic address: babusikova@jfmed.uniba.sk.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Babusikova
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty de Medicine in Martin, Biomedical Centre Martin , Eslovaquia.
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jurecekova
authors.affiliation: Department de Paediatrics, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty de Medicine in Martin, Eslovaquia.
authors.forename: Milos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jesenak
authors.affiliation: Department de Medical Biochemistry, Comenius University in Bratislava, Jessenius Faculty de Medicine in Martin, Eslovaquia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Evinova
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D007223:Infant; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D013147:Spirometry
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6
keywords: Asma bronquial; Bronchial asthma; Interleucina 6; Interleukin 6; Polimorfismo; Polymorphism