Premium
Correlation of a Polymorphism in the Interleukin‐1 Receptor Antagonist Gene with Hepatic Fibrosis in Japanese Alcoholics
Author(s) -
Takamatsu Masashi,
Yamauchi Masayoshi,
Maezawa Yoshihiko,
Ohata Mitsuru,
Saitoh Saburo,
Toda Gotaro
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.1998.22.s3_part1.141s
Subject(s) - genotype , medicine , heterozygote advantage , allele , gastroenterology , gene polymorphism , fibrosis , receptor antagonist , polymorphism (computer science) , endocrinology , immunology , receptor , antagonist , gene , biology , genetics
The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any association between interleukin‐1 receptor antagonist (IL1‐Ra) genotype and alcoholic liver disease. The IL1‐Ra genotype was assessed in 102 Japanese male alcoholic liver disease patients and 46 healthy subjects by polymerase chain reaction with leukocyte DNA. The distribution of IL1‐Ra genotype and the allelic frequencies in Japanese healthy subjects are both significantly different from that previously reported in Caucasians (A1/A1 genotype: 95.7% in Japanese vs. 54.0% in Caucasians, p < 0.001; A1 allele: 97.8% vs. 73.4%, p < 0.001). The frequency of A1 heterozygotes tended to be higher in Japanese alcoholics with fibrosis, compared with those without fibrosis (14.9% vs. 2.9%). Furthermore, within the fibrotic groups, cumulative alcohol intake was significantly lower in A1 heterozygotes than in the A1 homozygotes (877 ± 118 kg vs. 1369 ± 90 kg, p < 0.05). In conclusion, a genetic polymorphism in the IL1‐Ra gene may influence the risk of developing hepatic fibrosis in Japanese alcoholics. The same study should be conducted in Caucasian patients having more frequency of IL1‐Ra A1 heterozygotes.