Interleukin-1 gene complex single nucleotide polymorphisms in systemic sclerosis: a further step ahead

Gene–gene and gene–environment interactions are difficult to detect by traditional parametric computational approaches. Novel nonparametric and model-free strategies, such as the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) algorithm, are thus emerging as practical and feasible methods of analysis to model high-order epistatic interactions, integrating and complementing traditional logistic approaches. With traditional methods of analysis we showed that the interleukin-1β (IL-1β) C+3962T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), along with the Sc70 antibody and the diffuse cutaneous subset of systemic sclerosis, are important risk factors for the development of a severe ventilatory restriction in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc); however the interactions among these and other genetic and environmental attributes were difficult to model. On the contrary, the MDR analysis detected significant two- or three-way interactions in the presence of nonlinearity. The best model identified by the multifactor dimensionality reduction algorithm included the antibody subset, the IL-1β C-511T and the interferon-γ AUTR5644T SNPs, with a testing accuracy of 85% (p < 0.001) and a cross-validation consistency of 10/10. This model outperformed any one- to-three-way model constructed by considering the three factors with main independent effects identified by traditional computational approaches. Epistatic interactions among IL-1 gene complex SNPs and clinical or environmental factors are more important than the singe attributes in the development of severe ventilatory restriction in SSc patients.     

Proximal interleukin-10 gene polymorphisms in Italian patients with systemic sclerosis

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) can favour the development of fibrosis by promoting a relative shift towards T helper 2 responses. Three single base pair substitutions in the 5' flanking region of the IL-10 gene (G/A -1082, C/T -819 and C/A -592) influence the amount of IL-10 secreted in cell cultures: the GCC haplotype is associated with an increased production, while the ACC and the ATA haplotypes are associated with intermediate and decreased production. Accordingly, three phenotypes have been individuated: high producers (GCC+/GCC+), medium producers (GCC+/GCC-) and low producers (GCC-/GCC-). We hypothesised that IL-10 haplotypes and genotypes are differently expressed in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with the limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) subset or the diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) subset. One hundred and sixty-one unrelated Italian patients with SSc and 94 controls have been included. Their DNA was extracted and stored before being analysed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. The GCC haplotype is overrepresented in patients with SSc; subjects with dcSSc were the primary contributors to these results (dcSSc: 52.2% vs controls: 37.2%; chi2= 8.519, 2 d.f., corrected P= 0.04). In Scl70-positive patients, the GCC haplotype increased the likelihood of presenting the dcSSc subset [chi2= 12.56, P < 0.0005; odds ratio (OR) = 3.89, 95% confidence interval (CI(95)) = 1.69-9.08]; these results were confirmed at the phenotypic level (chi2= 11.67, 2 d.f., P= 0.003). In Scl70-positive patients, the high-producing phenotype was associated with poor survival, independently from disease subset and gender (hazard ratio = 9.9, CI(95)= 1.6-61.27, P < 0.05). The IL-10 haplotype and genotype associated with high IL-10 production may alter the susceptibility to SSc and/or its expression, increasing the prognostic value of other well-known markers of disease severity.     

The rs3761548 polymorphism of FOXP3 is a protective genetic factor against allergic rhinitis in the Hungarian female population

We aimed to study whether forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) polymorphisms contribute to allergic rhinitis (AR) in a Central-European population, the Hungarians, similarly as it was found in Han Chinese. A case-control study was performed and the genotype distribution of the rs3761548 FOXP3 polymorphism was analyzed separately in females and in males. The results demonstrated that females homozygous for the rare FOXP3 rs3761548 allele (A/A) are protected against AR; otherwise, females who are either wild types (C/C) or heterozygote carriers (C/A) of the rare allele are more susceptible to AR (OR [95%CI] = 2.089 [1,095; 3.988]). We were able to confirm the findings of Zhang et al. in a geographically and ethnically distinct population, the Hungarians, and revealed that the rs3761548 SNP is a marker of a haplotype in these two populations, but not in Sub-Saharan Africans, suggesting that this haplotype was fixed after early modern humans left Africa.     

Compromised CD4+ CD25(high) regulatory T-cell function in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is correlated with a reduced frequency of FOXP3-positive cells and reduced FOXP3 expression at the single-cell level

CD4+ CD25(high) regulatory T cells (Tregs) of patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS), in contrast to those of patients with secondary progressive (SP) MS, show a reduced suppressive function. In this study, we analysed forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) at the single-cell level in MS patients and controls (healthy individuals and patients with other neurological diseases) by means of intracellular flow cytometry. Our data revealed a reduced number of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25(high) FOXP3+ T cells and lower FOXP3 protein expression per cell in RR-MS patients than in SP-MS patients and control individuals, which was correlated with the suppressive capacity of Tregs in these patients. Interestingly, interferon (IFN)-beta-treated RR-MS patients showed restored numbers of FOXP3+ Tregs. Furthermore, a higher percentage of CD4+ CD25(high) FOXP3+ Tregs in RR-MS patients, as compared with controls and SP-MS patients, expressed CD103 and CD49d, adhesion molecules involved in T-cell recruitment towards inflamed tissues. This was consistent with a significantly increased number of CD27+ CD25(high) CD4+ T cells in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as compared with peripheral blood, in RR-MS patients. Taken together, these data show aberrant FOXP3 expression at the single-cell level correlated with Treg dysfunction in RR-MS patients. Our results also suggest that Tregs accumulate in the CSF of RR-MS patients, in an attempt to down-regulate local inflammation in the central nervous system.     

转录因子FOXP3基因多态性与广西壮族系统性红斑狼疮的遗传易感性

目的 探讨转录因子FOXP3基因单核苷酸多态性与广西壮族系统性红斑狼疮(systematic lupus erythematosus,SLE)易感性之间的关系.方法 以120例SLE患者和160名健康对照者为研究对象,应用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性和DNA测序的方法对FOXP3基因-2383 C/T、-3281 C/A单核苷酸多态性进行基因分型.结果 FOXP3基因-3281 C/A多态性在SLE组和正常人群中的分布差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),而FOXP3基因-2383 C/T多态性在两组人群中的分布差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05),等位基因频率的相对风险分析发现,-2383 T等位基因携带者患系统性红斑狼疮的风险是-2383 C等位基因的1.715倍(OR=1.715,95%CI:1.165～2.525).联合基因型分析发现,FOXP3的-2383 T/-3281 A等位基因频率在SLE组中显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),-2383 T/-3281 A等位基因携带者显著增加了SLE的发病风险(OR=2.196,95%CI:1.165～4.142).结论 FOXP3基因-2383 C/T多态性与SLE的发病具有相关性,其中-2383 T等位基因可能是SLE的遗传易感基因.     

FOXP3/Scurfin gene polymorphism is associated with adult onset type 1 diabetes in Japanese,especially in women and slowly progressive-type patients

Purpose: Some reports have shown that the cause of type 1 diabetes is associated with dysfunction of regulatory T cells (Tregs). The FOXP3/Scurfin gene is known to be a master gene of Tregs. Therefore, we tried to analyze the relation between the gene polymorphism and adult onset type 1 diabetes and its subtype in the Japanese population.

Methods: In this study, we recruited 316 Japanese patients with type 1 diabetes (155 male and 161 female, mean onset age 35.4 years) and 432 healthy Japanese controls (263 male and 169 female, mean age 44.4 years). Then we subdivided the patients by onset type, sex, and islet-associated autoantibody positivity.

Results: The genotype frequency of (GT)₁₆/(GT)₁₆ in female patients with overall type 1 diabetes was especially lower than that in controls (19.9% vs. 38.5%, p = 0.0002). Moreover, the genotype frequency of (GT)₁₆/(GT)₁₆ in female patients with slowly progressive type 1 diabetes was significantly lower than that in controls (15.4% vs. 38.5%, p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Our data showed that the (GT)n microsatelloite polymorphism in the FOXP3/Scrufin gene was associated with Japanese adult onset type 1 diabetes, especially in females, and slowly progressive type 1 diabetes.     

Association study of interleukin-19 rs2243188 polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Chinese population

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs2243188 of interleukin-19 (IL-19), show significant evidence for association with SLE in a Chinese population. A total of 545 SLE patients and 613 healthy controls were collected in the present study. The genotyping of IL-19 rs2243188 polymorphism was detected by TaqMan allele discrimination assay on the 7300 real time polymorphism chain reaction system. The minor C allele of rs2243188, relative to the major A allele, appeared to have a significantly lower frequency in SLE patients (31.0%) as compared with controls (35.5%) (χ²?=?5.19, p?=?0.023). We also discovered a statistical significance in the dominant model (CC?+?CA versus AA: OR?=?0.755, 95% CI?=?0.598–0.953, p?=?0.018). However, no significant difference in genotype distribution was found between SLE patients and controls (p?=?0.056). Furthermore, an increased frequency of CC genotype were also detected in lupus nephritis (LN) groups as compared with non-LN groups (p?=?0.024). Besides, the individuals with CC genotype had a 2.201-fold higher risk for the susceptibility to LN than those A allele carriers (AA?+?CA) (p?=?0.006). Unfortunately, the analyses on the relationship of IL-19 rs2243188 with several clinical manifestations of SLE failed to find any significant results. In conclusion, our observations suggested the minor C allele of SNP rs2243188 might be a protective factor for SLE in a Chinese Han population. Moreover, the subgroup analysis highlighted that IL-19 rs2243188 SNP was associated with the susceptibility to LN patients.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs3751143 in P2RX7 is associated with therapy failure in chronic Q fever while rs7125062 in MMP1 is associated with fewer complications

ObjectivesChronic Q fever is a persistent infection with the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. Development of chronic Q fever is associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding for pattern recognition receptors, for phagolysosomal pathway components and for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). We evaluated the association of SNPs in these innate-immunity and MMP genes with clinical outcomes.MethodsSNPs were selected from previous association studies and analysed in a cohort of patients with chronic Q fever. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality; secondary outcomes were therapy failure and chronic Q fever–related complications. Subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR) were calculated.ResultsNineteen SNPs were analysed in 134 patients with proven and 29 with probable chronic Q fever. In multivariable analysis, none of the selected SNPs was associated with all-cause mortality. However, SNP rs3751143 located in P2RX7 appeared to be associated with therapy failure (SHR 2.42; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–5.05; p 0.02), which is in line with other reports, showing that a loss of function of the P2X7 receptor leads to inefficient killing of intracellular organisms. In addition, SNP rs7125062 located in MMP1, involved in the cleavage of extracellular matrix, was associated with fewer chronic Q fever–related complications such as acute aneurysms (SHR 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.29–0.83; p 0.008).ConclusionsA polymorphism in P2RX7, known to lead to loss of function of the receptor and inefficient killing of intracellular organisms, and a polymorphism in MMP1 were respectively associated with more therapy failures and fewer complications such as acute aneurysms in patients with chronic Q fever.     

Genetic diversity of CD14, CD28, CTLA-4 and ICOS gene promoter polymorphism in African and American sickle cell disease

Variable immune response to external stimuli remains a major concern in sickle cell disease (SCD), with such responses predicted to be contributors to disease pathogenesis. Elucidating the diversity of host genes contributing to immune response would assist to clarify differing outcomes among and between disease groups. We hypothesize that there is a significant interethnic diversity in the CD14 (rs2569190), CD28 (rs35593994), CTLA-4 (rs5742909) and ICOS (rs4404254) gene polymorphisms among and between SCD groups. We genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms of the 4 loci among African and African American SCD and control groups and between SCD groups. In all, 375 individuals from Mali (145 SCD and 230 controls) and 700 DNA samples from the United States (321 SCD and 379 controls) were subjected to a PCR-RFLP assay. We found no intraethnic difference in genotypic and allelic frequencies of the 4 loci among Africans and African Americans, potentially significant in disease association studies, including a similar observation for interethnic frequencies of CD28, CTLA-4 and ICOS genes, but not CD14. The CD14 (rs2569190) gene promoter demonstrated a significant difference (p < 0.02) between African and African American SCD groups, with the mutant variant (−159 T/T) more frequent (p < 0.0002) in African American SCD (38.9% versus 26.2%). The higher frequency of CD14 mutants among African Americans without an accompanying defect in CD28, CTLA-4 and ICOS diversity possibly indicates a defective innate response, driven by CD14, is untethered to downstream T cell differentiation or effector function. Additionally, we show that CD28 (rs35593994) mutant variants have no impact on T cell differentiation, as the ICOS gene provides an alternative pathway to override this impairment. We conclude that in spite of the defect in CD14, T cell selection and differentiation is unimpeded and a robust adaptive immune response initiated.     

CASP3基因单核苷酸多态性与中国儿童川崎病的相关性研究

目的 分析半胱氨酸蛋白酶3基因(caspase-3,CASP3)多态性与中国儿童川崎病(Kawasakidisease,KD)临床表型的潜在相关性,以寻找中国儿童KD发生发展的高风险分子标记.方法 采用病例对照研究,实验组包括238例KD患儿,对照组包含年龄与性别组成匹配的364名非KD儿童.同时应用聚合酶链式反应-限制性片段长度多态性与DNA测序技术,对研究对象的CASP3基因包括功能性单核苷酸多态位点(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)rs113420705在内的3个多态位点进行基因分型,分别比较KD组与对照组、继发与不继发冠状动脉损伤(coronary artery lesions,CALs)以及静脉注射免疫球蛋白(intravenous immunoglobulin,IVIG)治疗敏感与抗性情况下这些SNP位点等位基因与基因型频率.结果 KD组中rs113420705的T等位基因频率与该等位基因携带者频率均显著高于对照组.在3种常见的单倍型中,2种包含SNP rs113420705风险等位基因的单倍型更常见于KD患者组.3个SNP位点的等位基因、基因型与次等位基因携带者频率在继发与不继发CALs患者组,以及IVIG治疗敏感与不敏感患者组之间差异均无统计学意义.结论 CASP3基因rs113420705与中国人群川崎病的发生存在显著的相关性,提示该SNP的风险等位基因有希望成为判断中国儿童川崎病易患性的分子遗传标记.CASP3基因风险单倍型的证实为该基因在KD发生中的作用提供了新的证据.     

The CELSR1 polymorphisms rs6007897 and rs4044210 are associated with ischaemic stroke in Chinese Han population

Background: Recently, CELSR1 was identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) as a susceptibility gene for ischaemic stroke (IS) in Japanese individuals.

Aim: The goal was to examine whether CELSR1 variants are associated with IS in the Chinese Han population.

Subjects and methods: This study genotyped two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of CELSR1, rs6007897 and rs4044210, in a Chinese sample of 569 IS cases and 581 controls and assessed their genotype and allele associations with IS.

Results: The results showed that rs6007897 and rs4044210 variants of CELSR1 were significantly (p?p?Conclusion: Taken together, the present study has proven for the first time that CELSR1 is a susceptibility gene for IS in the Chinese Han population, especially for LAA.     

Candidate gene analysis of SPARCL1 gene in patients with multiple sclerosis

Recently, proteomic analysis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with MS identified four proteins which are present in MS but not in normal human CSF, including SPARCL1, an extracellular matrix-associated protein member of the SPARC family. One hundred eighty-six patients with MS and 185 age-matched controls were genotyped for A/G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 1 (rs1049539), C/G SNP in exon 4 (rs1049544), resulting in a substitution of an aspartate with an histidine, and A/G substitution in the exon 5 (rs1130643), leading to the substitution of alanine with threonine. No significant differences in either allelic or genotypic frequency of the three SNPs were found (P>0.05), even in stratifying MS patients according to the course of the disease. Stratifying according to gender, a trend towards a decreased frequency of the C/C genotype of the rs1049544 was observed in male patients as compared with male controls (30.2% versus 44.0%; P=0.217). Despite proteomic studies in CSF from MS patients suggested an important role for SPARCL1 in the development of the disease, SPARCL1 gene does not appear to act as susceptibility factor for MS in the population investigated here. However, the frequency of the C/C genotype of rs1049544 was decreased in male patients, possibly conferring a lower risk of developing MS in male population. Further studies are needed to clarify this issue.     

Interleukin 3 (IL3) polymorphisms associated with decreased risk of asthma and atopy

Cytokines, having central functions in immunological and inflammatory process, are always expected to play important roles in the pathogenesis of various diseases, such as asthma. Genetic polymorphisms of those cytokine and cytokine receptor genes are the focus of genetic association studies. In an effort to identify gene(s) whose variant(s) are involved in the development of asthma, we examined the genetic effects of 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms in eight cytokine and cytokine receptor genes, including IL1A, IL1B, IL2, IL3, IL4, IL8, IL10, and IL5RA, on asthma and atopy. Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms in eight cytokine and cytokine receptor genes were genotyped using the single-base extension method in a Korean asthma cohort (n=723). Logistic regression and multiple regressions were used for statistical analyses controlling for smoking, age, and gender as covariables. Genetic association analysis of polymorphisms revealed that one exonic (exon 1), IL3+79T>C (Ser27Pro), showed significant association with the risk of asthma and atopy. The Pro allele had shown dominant and protective effects on development of asthma in nonatopic subjects (P=0.002) and also showed significant association with the risk of atopy in normal control subjects (P=0.007). This information about the genetic association of important genes with asthma might provide valuable insights into strategies for the pathogenesis of asthma and atopy.     

骨保护素基因单核苷酸多态性与类风湿关节炎发病的相关性研究

 目的：探讨骨保护素（OPG）基因163A/G及245T/G单核苷酸多态性（SNPs）与我国汉族人群类风湿关节炎（RA）发病的相关性。方法：采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性（PCR-RFLP）技术检测我国南方汉族正常人群及RA患者的OPG 163A/G 和245T/G 2个SNP位点;进行Hardy-Weinberg平衡检验;计算基因型和等位基因频率,及这2个位点的连锁关系,并分析这2个SNP位点与RA的关系。结果：所研究基因分布符合Hardy-Weinberg平衡,163A/G 位点基因型AA、AG、GG分布频率在2组比较有显著差异（P<0.05）;等位基因A、G分布比较在2组有显著差异（P<0.05）,携带163GG基因型者发生RA的危险性是非携带者的1.219倍（OR=1219, 95％CI：1066~2.339, P<0.05)。但245T/G位点各基因型及等位基因频率在2组中均未见差异（P>005）。结论：OPG 基因 163A/G SNP可能与我国汉族人群RA发病相关,携带G等位基因可能是发病的危险因素。     

PTPN22 polymorphisms,but not R620W,were associated with the genetic susceptibility of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in a Chinese Han population

ObjectivesThe present study aimed to detect a possible association between PTPN22 gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese Han population.Methods7 PTPN22 SNPs were genotyped in 358 patients with RA and 713 patients with SLE, as well as 564 RA controls and 672 SLE controls by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP). Association analyses were conducted on the whole data set. Significant relationships were also examined between clinical features and SNPs for both RA and SLE.ResultsRs2476601 was lack of polymorphism with a ⩽0.1% frequency in both SLE and RA patients and healthy controls in our study. The two SNPs rs1217414 and rs3811021 of PTPN22 shown strong association with both SLE (rs1217414T: p_adj = 6.07e−004, OR = 0.57; rs3811021C: p_adj = 4.68e−005, OR = 0.65) and RA (rs1217414T: p_adj = 2.01e−008, OR = 0.26; rs3811021C: p_adj = 0.028, OR = 0.70). And the rs3765598 revealed a strong risk factor for SLE (p = 9.38e−009, p_adj = 6.57e−008, OR = 1.93), but not for RA (p = 0.48, OR = 1.12). Moreover, protective haplotype ACTTC in RA (p = 7.73e−016, p_adj = 5.51−015, OR[95%CI] = 0.02[0.002–0.10]) and SLE (p = 8.29e−018, p_adj = 5.80e−017, OR[95%CI] = 0.11[0.06–0.21]) were observed. In addition, the distribution of risk haplotypes ACGTC and GCTTT in RA (ACGTC: p = 0.0006, p_adj = 0.004, OR[95%CI] = 1.85[1.29–2.63]; GCTTT: p = 2.62e−005, p_adj = 1.85e−004, OR[95%CI] = 2.40[1.57–3.65]) and SLE (ACGTC: p = 0.0006, p_adj = 0.004, OR[95%CI] = 1.85[1.29–2.63]; ACGTC: p = 7.74e−011, p_adj = 6.81e−010, OR[95%CI] = 2.21[1.12–3.34]; GCTTT: p = 2.40[1.57–3.65], p_adj = 2.26e−006, OR[95%CI] = 2.64[1.79–3.87]) were significant different from that in controls. Furthermore, significant association was observed between the PTPN22 rs3765598 and antinuclear antibodies 1 (ANA1) in SLE.ConclusionsOur data provide strong evidence that the rs1217414 and rs3811021 in PTPN22 gene might be common protective factors contributed to SLE and RA susceptibility in the Chinese Han population. While, the rs3765598 might increase the genetic susceptibility of SLE, but not RA.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in VEGF gene are associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma

We aimed to assess whether the five common SNPs can affect the risk of osteosarcoma, and its association with demographic characteristics of osteosarcoma. 165 osteosarcoma patients and 330 cancer-free controls were enrolled into our study. Five common SNPs in VEGF gene, -2578C/A (rs699947), -1156G/A (rs1570360), +1612G/A (rs10434), +936C/T (rs3025039) and -634G/C (rs2010963), were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Conditional logistic regression analyses found that individuals with AA genotype and A allele of rs699947 were associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma. Individuals with GG genotype and G allele of rs2010963 were associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma. By stratified analysis, AA genotype of rs699947 was associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma in those with shorter age, males and a family history of cancer, and GG genotype of rs2010963 was correlated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma in those with shorter age, females and a family history of cancer. Our study suggests that rs699947 and rs2010963 polymorphisms may play a role in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma.     

Lack of association of PON polymorphisms with sporadic ALS in an Italian population

Paraoxonase (PON) gene polymorphisms have been associated with susceptibility to sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We have investigated the role of the previously associated single nucleotide polymorphisms rs854560, rs662, and rs6954345 in 350 ALS patients and 376 matched controls from Italy. No significant association was observed at genotype and haplotype level. Our data suggest that PON polymorphisms are not involved in ALS pathogenesis in an Italian population.     

Genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-6 gene and susceptibility to coronary artery disease in Chinese population: Evidence based on 4582 subjects

The aim of this study was to explore whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene (−174 G/C and −572 C/G) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) risk in Chinese population. All the statistical tests were performed using Stata version 11.0. Twelve articles involving 16 studies were included in this meta-analysis, covering a total of 2309 CAD cases and 2273 controls. For IL-6 gene −572 C/G polymorphism, the results showed evidence for significant association between IL-6 gene −572 C/G polymorphism and CAD risk (for G allele vs. C allele: OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.26–1.74, p < 0.001; for G/G vs. C/C: OR = 2.60, 95% CI = 1.54–4.39, p < 0.001; for G/G vs. G/C + C/C: OR = 2.15, 95% CI = 1.35–3.42, p = 0.001; for G/G + G/C vs. C/C: OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.29–1.85, p < 0.001). However, for IL-6 gene −174 G/C polymorphism, no significant association was found between this variation and CAD risk. In summary, our meta-analysis showed evidence that IL-6 gene −572 C/G polymorphism may be a risk factor for CAD susceptibility. For IL-6 gene −174 G/C polymorphism, no significant association was found between this variation and CAD risk.     

Alcohol use disorder and GABAB receptor gene polymorphisms in an Italian sample: haplotype frequencies,linkage disequilibrium and association studies

Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex trait with genetic and environmental influences. Several gene variants have been associated with the risk for AUD, including genes encoding the sub-units of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors.

Aim: This study evaluated whether specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding GABA_B receptor sub-units can be considered as candidates for the risk of AUD.

Subjects and methods: Seventy-four AUD subjects and 128 Italian controls were genotyped for 10 SNPs in genes encoding GABA-B1 and GABA-B2 sub-units (GABBR1 and GABBR2). Allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies were tested for the association with the AUD trait.

Results: A significant difference between AUD individuals and controls was observed at genotype level for rs2900512 of GABBR2 gene. The homozygous T/T genotype was not found in the controls, whereas it was over-represented in the AUD individuals. Under the recessive model (T/T vs C/T?+?C/C) this result was statistically significant, as well as the Odds Ratio for the association with the AUD trait.

Conclusions: The results provide preliminary data on the association between GABA_B receptor gene variation and risk of AUD. To confirm this finding, studies with larger samples and additional characterisation of the phenotypic AUD trait are required.