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Cytokine gene polymorphisms in allergiccontact dermatitis
Author(s) -
Westphal Götz A.,
Schnuch Axel,
Moessner Rotraut,
König Inke R.,
Kränke Birger,
Hallier Ernst,
Ziegler Andreas,
Reich Kristian
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
contact dermatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1600-0536
pISSN - 0105-1873
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0536.2003.480208.x
Subject(s) - immunology , genotype , allergy , allele , allergic contact dermatitis , gene polymorphism , polymorphism (computer science) , pathogenesis , biology , contact dermatitis , tumor necrosis factor alpha , medicine , gene , genetics
Susceptibility to contact allergy may be influenced by genetically determined alterations in the production of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines. This report focuses on functional polymorphisms in the genes encoding for several cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of contact allergic responses, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α (G–238 A, G–308 A), interleukin (IL)‐1β (C‐511G, T+ 3953C), its natural antagonist, the IL‐1 receptor antagonist (VNTR intron 2), and IL‐6 (G–174C). Polymorphisms were investigated by PCR techniques among polysensitized individuals, defined as individuals with confirmed contact sensitization to para ‐substituted aryl compounds and at least one other structurally unrelated allergen ( n = 86), and healthy control individuals without a history of eczema ( n = 310). The distribution of TNFA –308 genotypes was significantly different in these groups ( P adjusted = 0.0378). Compared with carriers of 2 wild‐type alleles ( TNFA −308*1/1 (*G/G)), carriers of the TNFA –308*1/2 (*G/A) and TNFA –308*2/2 (*A/A) genotypes tended to be more common among polysensitized individuals [OR = 1.54, 95% CI (0.92–2.55) and OR = 2.36 (0.84–6.51), respectively]. No significantly different distribution of genotypes was detected at any other polymorphic loci among control individuals without eczema and polysensitized subjects. These findings suggest a possible relationship between the TNFA –308 polymorphism and contact allergy. The results need to be confirmed in future studies.