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A functional promoter polymorphism of the human IL18 gene is associated with aspirin‐induced urticaria
Author(s) -
Kim SH.,
Son J.K.,
Yang EM.,
Kim JE.,
Park HS.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10467.x
Subject(s) - aspirin , polymorphism (computer science) , genetics , gene , medicine , allele , immunology , biology
Summary Background Urticaria is the commonest cutaneous reaction caused by aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. The pathogenesis of aspirin‐induced urticaria (AIU) is not fully understood, but appears to involve mast cell activation and neutrophil infiltration. Objectives To investigate the genetic contribution of interleukin (IL)‐18, which can amplify acute inflammation by promoting mast cell activation, neutrophil migration and cytokine production, to the pathogenesis of AIU. Methods A case–control association study was performed using 275 patients with AIU and 196 normal healthy controls in a Korean population. Two promoter polymorphisms of the IL18 gene (−607A/C and −137G/C) were genotyped using the primer extension method. The functional effect of the IL18 gene promoter polymorphism was investigated through in vitro studies including a luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) and ex vivo studies involving neutrophil chemotaxis assays. Results A significant association was detected between both AIU in general and the aspirin‐intolerant acute urticaria (AIAU) phenotype and the IL18 promoter polymorphism −607A/C. Patients with AIAU showed higher frequencies of the C −607 G −137 haplotype, ht1 [CG], compared with controls ( P = 0·02). Moreover, ht1 [CG] showed a high transcript haplotype by the luciferase activity assay, and EMSAs identified a −607C allele‐specific DNA‐binding protein as CREB2. Neutrophil chemotactic activity was highest in subjects with AIU exhibiting the high transcript haplotype, ht1 [CG] ( P = 0·019). Conclusions The high transcript haplotype ht1 [CG] of the IL18 gene may contribute to the development of acute cutaneous inflammation sensitive to aspirin, leading to the clinical presentation of AIAU.