Impact of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphism on IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND: It is evident that cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis as well as disease progression in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). The level of cytokine production is influenced by different genotypes that reflect gene polymorphism of the pertinent cytokine. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene polymorphism have been found to affect disease susceptibility and activity in several inflammatory diseases. However, the impact of these polymorphisms in IgAN patients has not previously been thoroughly studied. METHODS: We investigated 111 cases of biopsy-proven IgAN and 100 healthy, normal controls for their IL-1ra and TNF-alpha gene polymorphism. IL-1ra gene polymorphism was characterized as a variable number of tandem repeats of a 86 bp sequence within intron 2. Five alleles were identified and were designated as IL1RN*1, IL1RN*2, IL1RN*3, IL1RN*4, and IL1RN*5, corresponding to 4, 2, 5, 3, 6 repeats, respectively. A polymorphism in the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene was also studied. This polymorphism involved a guanidine to adenosine transition at position -308 and was designated as TNF1 (-308G) and TNF2 (-308A). RESULTS: There were 54 male and 57 female patients with a mean age of 30.3 +/- 12.5 years and a disease duration of 66. 8 +/- 47.2 months. The mean duration of the follow-up period was 47. 3 +/- 32.6 months. In the patient group, the allele frequencies of IL1RN*1, IL1RN*2, IL1RN*3, IL1RN*4, and IL1RN*5 were 89.6%, 9.9%, 0%, 0.5%, and 0%, respectively, whereas the corresponding carriage rates were 100%, 19.8%, 0%, 0.9%, and 0%, respectively. An excessive carriage of IL2RN*2 was found in the patients when compared with normal controls (allele frequency, 9.9 vs. 2.5%, P < 0.0001). The allele frequencies of TNF1 and TNF2 were 94.1 and 5.9%, respectively, and the carriage rates were 99.1 and 10.8%, respectively, in the patients, which was not significantly different from those of normal controls. When the patients were stratified into mild and severe groups according to their initial presentation, none of the studied alleles correlated with the severity. However, patients with gross hematuria were associated with a higher carriage rate of TNF2 when compared with patients without gross hematuria (allele frequency, 15. 4 vs. 4.6%, P = 0.0552; carriage rate, 30.8% vs. 8.2%, P = 0.0272). Renal survival analysis revealed that the TNF2 carrier had a renal survival comparable with TNF2 (-) patients. However, the carriage of the IL1RN*2 allele was associated with a significantly poorer long-term outcome with a median survival time of 72 months, as compared with those without IL1RN*2 (134 months, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: IL-1ra and TNF-alpha gene polymorphism may affect disease susceptibility as well as disease activity and long-term outcome in human IgAN. Treatment with an IL-1ra or IL-1 blocking agent may be relevant in those carrying the IL1RN*2 allele.     

白细胞介素1受体拮抗剂等位基因与紫癜性肾炎和IgA肾病的相关联系

目的 为了进一步阐明紫癜性肾炎(HSPN)及IgA肾病(IgAN)二者在发病机理上可能存在的联系。方法 用PCR方法对43例HSPN,97例IgAN患者和98名正常人IL-l受体拮抗剂(IL-lra)基因数目可变的串联重复(VNTR)多态性进行了分析。结果 HSPN患者白细胞介素l受体拮抗剂等位基因(IL IRN 2)的携带率明显高于正常人(P<0.02)和IgAN患者(P<0.05)。在IgAN患者中表现为反复发作性肉眼血尿者其IL IRN 2等位基因的携带率明显高于其它临床类型IgAN患者(P<0.o1),而与HSPN无显著性差异(P>0.05)。结论 HSPN患者IL-lra基因特定的遗传背景在其发病机理中可能起一定作用。IgAN患者中表现为反复发作性肉眼血尿者较其它临床类型IgAN患者与HSPN有更多的相似之处,而ILlRN 2等位基因高携带率可能是二者发病机理的共同点之一。     

Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphism in patients with end-stage renal failure

End-stage-renal disease (ESRD) is a final result of various etiologies. Prognostic indicators leading to ESRD in chronic kidney diseases have been studied extensively, of which, genetic factors remain a subject of great concern. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are potent proinflammatory cytokines that are involved in several chronic kidney diseases. Studies on cytokine gene polymorphism have revealed important information about the role of genetic factors in disease susceptibility and severity. Gene polymorphism of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and TNF-alpha were determined in 297 ESRD patients and in 145 normal healthy controls. IL-1ra gene polymorphism was characterized as a variable number of tandem repeats of a 86 bp sequence within intron 2. Five alleles were identified and were designated as IL1RN*1, IL1RN*2, IL1RN*3, IL1RN*4, and IL1RN*5, corresponding to 4,2,5,3, and 6 repeats, respectively. A polymorphism in the promoter region of the TNF-alpha gene was also studied. This polymorphism involved a guanidine to adenosine transition at position -308 and was designated as TNF1 (- 308 G) and TNF2 (-308 A). The genotypes and allele frequencies were compared between patients and control group. The distributions of genotypes of IL-1ra and TNF-alpha did not differ significantly between ESRD patients and normal controls. Analysis of allele frequencies revealed a trend toward an increase in IL1RN*2 frequency (7.5% versus 3.8 %, p=0.064) and noncarriage of TNF2 in the patient group (7.2% versus 11.0%, p=0.076) when compared with the control group. When both alleles were considered together, the patient group had a significantly higher frequency of carriage of IL1RN*2 in combination with noncarriage of TNF2 (p=0.0468). We conclude that carriage of IL-1RN*2 and noncarriage of TNF2 allele appear to be poor prognostic factors in patients suffering from various chronic renal diseases that eventually enter end-stage renal failure.     

Polymorphism of the cytokine genes and IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a form of chronic glomerulonephritis of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. Cytokine gene polymorphisms regulate cytokine production and play a role in immune and inflammatory responses; these immunological responses thus are possibly involved in the etiology and pathogenesis of IgAN. METHODS: We studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) polymorphisms of important cytokine genes of inflammation interleukin-1 (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) in 167 patients with IgAN and 400 healthy blood donor controls. IgAN patients had been followed up for 6 to 17 (median 11) years from renal biopsy. RESULTS: Carriage of the IL-1beta allele 2 (IL1beta2) or IL-1Ra allele 2 (IL1RN*2) was associated with an increased risk of IgAN. These alleles were highly linked and the odds ratio (OR) of IgAN for carriage of both alleles was 1.8 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 2.6; P = 0.002). Carriage of the TNF-alpha allele 2 (TNF2) was associated with a decreased risk of IgAN (OR 0.5, range 0.3 to 0.7; P = 0.001). The risk of IgAN was found to be highest in those carrying IL1beta2 and IL1RN*2 but not TNF2 as compared to those who did not carry both of these IL-1 cluster genes and were carriers of TNF2 (OR 5.0 (2.4-10.3); P < 0.001). None of the polymorphisms studied was associated with poor prognosis. CONCLUSION: Carriage of IL1beta2 and IL1RN*2 together with non-carriage of TNF2 is associated with increased susceptibility, but not with a prognosis of IgAN.     

Polymorphism in IgA nephropathy

Summary: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is polyphormic in its clinical manifestation, course and prognosis. Patients with isolated IgA deposit in glomeruli tend to have a high incidence of macroscopic haematuria and carry a better prognosis. In contrast, patients with deposits of IgA and IgG and IgM have a higher incidence of nephrotic syndrome and hypertension. In parallel, patients with IgA and IgG and IgM tend to have more glomerulosclerosis and tubulointestitial lesions. Recently, the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism and its association in disease risk provided interesting exploration leading us to speculate about a possible mechanism to explain the variation in the rate of progression of IgAN; although, the results are still controversial. The variability of plasma ACE concentration has been shown to be associated with an insertion/deletion polymorphism. The frequencies of ACE genotype in 177 Chinese patients with IgAN has been observed. We found that patients with IgAN showed a higher frequency of DD genotype than normal population. In contrast to the previous reports, we did not find any association between ACE genotype and the rate of progression of IgAN. As different genotypes of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 ra) are also responsible for the circulating levels of IL-1 ra, the polymorphism of IL-1 ra gene has been analyzed in 100 IgAN patients. There was no significant difference in the frequency of IL1RN*2 allele between normal subjects and IgAN. However, patients with recurrent macroscopic haematuria showed a higher carriage rate of IL1RN*2. Hereditable factors, in combination with a number of recognized environmental risk factors, are important determinants of the pathogenesis and natural history of IgAN. The notion that the gene polymorphism might be responsible for the clinical features and progression of IgAN is both intriguing and provocative. The lessons from previous multiple small size studies have produced conflicting results illustrating the need for observation of large numbers of cases in further studies to verify these observed associations.     

IgA肾病和紫癜性肾炎患者白细胞介素-1受体拮抗剂基因多态性的功能研究

目的阐明白细胞介素１受体拮抗剂（ＩＬ１ｒａ）基因多态性对其功能的影响，论证ＩＬ１ｒａ基因型与ＩｇＡ肾病（ＩｇＡＮ）及紫癜性肾炎（ＨＳＰＮ）临床表型之间联系的机理。方法用ＰＣＲ方法对ＩｇＡＮ和ＨＳＰＮ患者ＩＬ１ｒａ基因型进行分析，从ＩＬ１ｒａ不同基因型患者获取外周血单核细胞，观察单核细胞经单核巨噬细胞集落刺激因子（ＧＭＣＳＦ）刺激后，ＩＬ１ｒａ、ＩＬ１α和ＩＬ１β的产生能力。结果无论是ＩｇＡＮ，还是ＨＳＰＮ患者，携带ＩＬ１ｒａ基因ＩＬ１ＲＮ＊２等位基因者其单核细胞ＩＬ１ｒａ的产生能力明显低于不携带该等位基因的个体，而ＩＬ１α和ＩＬ１β的产生能力与是否携带ＩＬ１ＲＮ＊２等位基因无关。结论ＩＬ１ｒａ基因多态性能对其功能产生影响。携带ＩＬ１ＲＮ＊２等位基因者其体内ＩＬ１ｒａ的产生能力存在缺陷。该结果为临床上根据ＩＬ１ｒａ基因型有针对地采取干预治疗奠定了基础。     

Polymorphisms in interleukin-1 beta and Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist genes are associated with kidney failure in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND/AIM: Cytokines play an important role in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of interleukin (IL)-1 cluster genes on diabetic nephropathy in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: We investigated -511 C/T polymorphism of IL-1 beta and tandem repeat polymorphism in intron 2 of IL-1 receptor antagonist in type 2 DM patients with end-stage kidney failure as compared with patients without nephropathy. RESULTS: The IL1B2 allele was found more frequently in patients with kidney failure than in controls (57.4 vs. 46.1%, p < 0.05). An excessive homozygous carriage of IL1B2 was found in patients with kidney failure when compared with controls (30.5 vs. 18.3%, p < 0.05). The allelic frequency of IL1RN*2 was also higher in cases than in controls without nephropathy (8.4 vs. 2.8 %, p < 0.05). The carriage rate of IL1RN*2 was significantly associated with an increased risk of kidney failure (15.8 vs. 5.6%; OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.24-8.17). The risk of kidney failure was highest in those carrying both IL1RN*2 and IL1B2 (OR 3.90, 95% CI 1.34-11.40). CONCLUSION: IL1B2 and IL1RN*2 genotypes of the IL-1 cluster genes are associated with diabetic nephropathy in Korean patients with type 2 DM.     

Association of IL-1β, IL-1ra, and TNF-α gene polymorphisms in childhood nephrotic syndrome

We investigated the association between IL-1, IL-1ra, and TNF- gene polymorphisms and childhood nephrotic syndrome (NS). We analyzed the genetic polymorphism of IL-1, IL-1ra, and TNF- genes in 152 patients with childhood NS and 292 healthy adult controls. The C to T exchange at position –511 of IL-1 and the G to A at –308 of the TNF- gene were genotyped. Five alleles of the IL-1ra gene were identified and designated as IL1RN*1, IL1RN*2, IL1RN*3, IL1RN*4, and IL1RN*5, according to the variable number of tandem repeats in intron 2. The allele frequencies of IL-11 (-511C), IL-12 (-511T), TNF1 (-308G), and TNF2 (-308A) were 53.0, 47.0, 92.1, and 7.9%, respectively, in the childhood NS group. This was not significantly different from normal controls. In the childhood NS group, the allele frequencies of IL1RN*1, IL1RN*2, IL1RN*3, IL1RN*4, and IL1RN*5 were 90.8, 7.6, 1.6, 0, and 0% [IL1RN*1 odds ratio (OR)=0.296, P=0.0001, IL1RN*2 OR=3.902, P=0.0002]. A high allele frequency of IL1RN*2 and a lower allele frequency of IL1RN*1 were found in childhood NS, although there was no association with IL-1 and TNF-. A high allele frequency of the IL1RN*2 allele may affect disease susceptibility in childhood NS.     

Cytokine-related genotypic differences in peak interleukin-6 blood levels of patients with SIRS and septic complications

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1, and IL-6-related genotypic differences affect IL-6 blood levels in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in an intensive care unit (ICU). METHODS: Seven polymorphisms of TNF, IL-1, and IL-6-related polymorphisms were studied with an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. One hundred and thirteen patients diagnosed with SIRS whose sequential organ failure assessment scores were > or =5 at the time when their daily measured IL-6 blood level peaked during the ICU stay (IL-6 max) were examined. IL-6 max, survival, and septic complications were compared between carriers and non-carriers of less frequent alleles, indicated as allele*2, in each polymorphism. RESULTS: In single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position -238 site of TNF-alpha (TNF-alpha-238*G/A), IL-6-596*G/A, and IL-6-174*C/T, allele*2 frequencies were much lower in the Japanese than in the Caucasian population. IL-6 max was significantly higher in allele*2 carriers of IL-1beta-511*C/T. Associations were found between susceptibility to septic shock and allele*2 carriage for both IL-1beta-511*C/T and TNF-alpha-308*G/A, and also between poor prognosis and allele*2 carriage in both IL-1 receptor antagonist second intron various number of tandem repeats polymorphism (IL-1raRN*1-5) and TNF-alpha-308*G/A. IL-1beta-511*C/T and IL-1raRN*1-5 were in linkage disequilibrium in this study population. CONCLUSIONS: Carriers of less frequent alleles in IL-1-related polymorphisms appear to have significant vulnerability to production of excessive IL-6 blood levels and to deterioration in septic shock.     

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist genotype is associated with coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes

Recently, inflammation has received considerable attention in the pathogenesis of both type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. The interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) is a major modulator of the interleukin-1 pro-inflammatory pathway. We studied the relationship between a variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in intron 2 of the IL-1ra gene (IL1RN) and coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with and without type 2 diabetes, following 787 consecutive patients admitted for suspected CAD. According to the current criteria of the American Diabetes Association, 250 patients had type 2 diabetes. In this group of patients, allele 2 carriers (n = 108) had an increased prevalence of CAD compared with noncarriers (85.2 vs. 73.2%), a difference that remained significant in a multivariate logistic regression model (odds ratio 2.2, 95% CI 1.1-4.3, P = 0.02). No association of CAD with allele 2 carrier status was present among nondiabetic patients (n = 537). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays showed decreased baseline plasma levels of IL-1ra in patients with type 2 diabetes, which may in part explain the role of the IL1RN VNTR in these patients.     

Association of IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist haplotypes with rate of decline in lung function in smokers

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that the cytokine network is central to the immunopathology of inflammatory airway diseases. The interleukin 1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) is a naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agent that binds to the IL-1 receptor but does not possess agonist activity. Each of the genes of the IL-1 locus on chromosome 2q14 is polymorphic. The IL1RN gene contains an 86 bp tandem repeat and allele 2 of this polymorphism has been associated with various inflammatory diseases. The IL-1beta (IL1B) gene contains a promoter polymorphism (C-511T) that has been associated with inflammatory diseases and is in linkage disequilibrium with the IL1RN polymorphism. METHODS: We investigated whether polymorphisms in the IL1B and IL1RN genes were associated with rate of decline of lung function. Genotypes were determined in 284 smokers with a rapid decline in lung function and 306 smokers with no decline in lung function. RESULTS: None of the genotypes was associated with the rate of decline of lung function. However, the distribution of IL1B/IL1RN haplotypes was different between smokers with a rapid decline in lung function and those with no decline in lung function (p=0.0005). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that IL1B/IL1RN haplotypes play a role in the rate of decline in lung function in smokers.     

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphisms are associated with disease severity in Black South Africans with rheumatoid arthritis

ObjectiveTo test for genetic associations between polymorphisms of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene cluster and disease susceptibility and severity in Black South Africans with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsAllele and genotype frequencies of IL1B (?511) and (+3954) and IL1RN variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) and (+2018) were compared between 141 RA patients and 101 healthy controls.ResultsNo significant differences in allelic distribution at the four loci were observed between RA patients and controls. Within the RA group, the IL1RN*2 (two repeats of an 86 bp tandem repeat) at the IL1RN VNTR locus was independently associated with higher Larsen radiologic damage scores (LDS), corrected for disease duration (p = 0.04). Moreover, the inferred haplotype, consisting of IL1RN*2 and (+2018) ‘C’ allele, was associated with significantly higher LDS, on average 15 points higher, compared to the base haplotype of IL1RN*long (three or more repeats) and (+2018) ‘T’ allele (p = 0.009). The common IL1B (?511) ‘T’ allele was associated with a poorer modified health assessment questionnaire disability index (p = 0.02).ConclusionOur findings provide further evidence of a possible role of polymorphisms of the IL-1 gene cluster in disease severity in RA, and particularly IL1RN*2 as a marker of erosive joint damage in Black South Africans with RA.     

Interleukin 1 and Chronic Rejection: Possible Genetic Links in Human Heart Allografts

Chronic rejection is a leading cause of graft loss in thoracic transplant recipients. Studies on the pathogenesis of chronic rejection have suggested a contributory role for certain cytokines and growth factors. The activity of these mediators is subject to genetic variation if a polymorphism alters expression, or function, of the ligand or its receptor. Here we have asked if certain cytokine and growth factor gene polymorphisms correlate with chronic rejection in recipients of thoracic allografts. In a retrospective analysis of 179 recipients of thoracic organ transplants (128 heart; 36 heart-lung; and 15 lung), polymorphisms in 8 genes that influence the inflammatory process, namely IL1B, IL1R1, IL1RN, IL6, IL10, TNFA, TGFB1 and FCGRIIA, were examined. Genotypic data from recipients who had either died or been re-transplanted as a result of chronic rejection (n = 96) were then compared to those of recipients who had a functioning graft for more than 11 years (n=83). In the heart graft recipients, only those polymorphisms that influenced expression of the IL1 receptor antagonist gene had a significant correlation with graft survival, with homozygosity for the IL1RN*1 allele being associated with rejection. The alternative, less frequent IL1RN alleles emerged as genomic predictors of long-term allograft survival. This association was especially strong when IL1 region haplotypes were considered, particularly when analysis was confined to heart transplant recipients who had had multiple acute rejection episodes (OR>20). This case-control study indicates that gene polymorphisms which influence IL1 bioactivity also influence the progression of chronic rejection in heart grafts.     

Recipient gene polymorphisms in the Th-1 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-gamma in relation to acute rejection and graft vascular disease after clinical heart transplantation

IL-2 and IFN-gamma are associated with acute rejection (AR) and graft vascular disease (GVD) after clinical heart transplantation. Polymorphisms in the genes of IL-2 (T-330G in the promoter) and IFN-gamma (CA repeat in the first intron) influence the production levels of these cytokines. Therefore, these polymorphisms might have an effect on the outcome after transplantation. To investigate possible effects of genetic variations in IL-2 and IFN-gamma genes on AR and GVD, we analyzed the IL-2 T-330G and the IFN-gamma CA repeat polymorphism in DNA of 301 heart transplant recipients. No associations were found for allele or genotype distributions between patients with or without AR (IL-2 allele frequency: P=0.44, genotype distribution: P=0.46; IFN-gamma allele frequency P=0.10, genotype distribution 12 repeats allele: P=0.21). Also, no associations were found analyzing the number (0 vs. 1 vs. >or=1) of AR (IL-2 allele frequency: P=0.59; genotype distribution: P=0.37; IFN-gamma allele frequency: P=0.27, genotype distribution 12 repeats allele: P=0.41) or analyzing the polymorphisms in patients with AR within the first month or thereafter (IL-2 allele frequency: P=0.45, genotype distribution: P=0.38; IFN-gamma allele frequency: P=0.21, genotype distribution 12 repeats allele: P=0.41). Analyzing both polymorphisms in relation to GVD, resulted in comparable allele and genotype distributions (IL-2 allele frequency: P=0.75; genotype distribution: P=0.77; IFN-gamma allele frequency: P=0.70, genotype distribution 12 repeats allele: P=0.63). In conclusion, we did not detect an association between the IL-2 T-330G promoter polymorphism and CA repeat polymorphism in the first intron of the IFN-gamma gene and AR or GVD after heart transplantation.     

白细胞介素1B和1RN基因多态性与骨关节炎易感性的关系

目的在中国青岛地区膝骨性关节炎患者中,探讨白细胞介素-1B(-31C/T、-511C/T、＋3954C/T)及其拮抗基因IL-1RN基因多态性与骨关节炎易感性的关系。 方法采用病例对照研究,对就诊青岛市胶州中心医院经临床诊断为膝关节骨关节炎的216例患者和233例年龄、性别匹配的健康对照者,排除既往有膝关节外伤史、类风湿性关节炎及合并其他内科疾病的患者,以聚合酶链反应和限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法检测IL-1B的－31C/T、－511C/T、＋3954 C/T位点及IL-1RN的多态性,采用logistic回归分析方法比较不同基因型与骨关节炎发病风险的关系。 结果骨关节炎组中IL-1B-511CT、IL-1B＋3954CT基因型频率明显高于对照组,与对照组差异有统计学意义(IL-1B-511CT χ²＝2.034,P＝0.026;IL-1B＋3954CT χ²＝5.526,P＝0.017),IL-1B＋3954C/T位点未发现TT基因型,通过logistic回归分析,结果显示与野生型的纯合子相比,杂合子-511CT、＋3954CT基因型与骨性关节炎高风险发病率具有相关性[IL-1B-511CT,OR＝1.89,95%CI(0.56,1.39),P＝0.026;IL-1B＋3954CT,OR＝2.51,95%CI(1.18,5.35),P＝0.017]。骨关节炎组和对照组在IL-1B-31C/T位点及IL-1RN基因型分布未见明显差异。 结论IL-1B-511TC、＋3954CT基因型人群可能增加对膝骨关节炎的易感性,而IL-1B-31C/T, IL-1RN*2基因多态性可能与膝骨关节炎遗传易感性不具相关性。     

Association between interleukin‐4R and TGF‐β1 gene polymorphisms and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population

Aim Colorectal cancer is associated with inflammatory bowel disease. The mechanisms of how different genetic make‐ups of cytokines might influence the individual susceptibility to develop particular types of tumours are still unknown. The authors analysed the association between genetic polymorphisms in cytokine/cytokine receptor genes and the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population. Method The authors assessed polymorphisms of the interleukin: IL‐1, IL‐1R, IL‐2, IL‐4, IL‐4R, IL‐10, transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1, IFN‐γ genes in Korean patients with colorectal cancer (n = 170) and in a normal healthy control group (n = 130) to investigate the association between theses cytokine gene polymorphisms and the risk of colorectal cancer. Results The IL‐4R 1902*T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.01, OR = 2.0) and rectal cancer (P < 0.05, OR = 1.8). The IL‐4R 1902*C allele was associated with a decreased risk of both colon cancer (P < 0.01, OR = 0.51) and rectal cancer (P < 0.05, OR = 0.5). The TFG‐β1 10*T allele was found to be associated with an increased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.00, OR = 2.3) and the TFG‐β1 10*C allele with a decreased risk of colon cancer (P < 0.00, OR = 0.43). Conclusion These results suggest that the genetic polymorphisms of IL‐4R and TGF‐β1 are associated with the risk of colorectal cancer in a Korean population.     

Interleukin-1 cluster gene polymorphisms in childhood IgA nephropathy

We have carried out a study with the aim of investigating the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL-1 gene cluster and childhood IgA nephropathy (IgAN). SNPs of the IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-1 receptor antagonist (RN) genes (IL1A, IL1B, and IL1RN, respectively) were analyzed in 182 patients with childhood IgAN and in 500 healthy controls. The IgAN patients were also dichotomized and compared with respect to proteinuria (<4 mg and ≥4 mg/m² per hour, respectively), the presence or absence of podocyte foot process effacement, and the presence of pathologically early and advanced disease markers, such as interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy, or global sclerosis. Significant differences in SNP frequencies were observed for the IL1B and IL1RN genes (rs1143627, rs3917356, and rs1143633 in the IL1B gene, and rs928940, rs439154, and rs315951 in the IL1RN gene). Moreover, rs1143627, rs3917356, and rs1143633 of IL1B were found to be significantly associated with the presence of podocyte foot process effacement. Our results suggest that the IL1B and IL1RN genes are associated with increased susceptibility to IgAN in children. They also suggest that the development of proteinuria in IgAN is related to IL1A and that podocyte foot process effacement is associated with IL1B.     

部分白细胞介素与IgA肾病易感性关联的Meta分析

目的本Meta分析旨在探讨白细胞介素（ILs）基因多态性与IgA肾病（IgA nephropathy,IgAN）发病风险的具体关联。方法检索范围从建库至2013年11月1日,计算机检索CISCOM、CINAHL、webofScience、Google学术、EBSCO、Cochrane Library、CBM和CNKI等中英文数据库,采用STATA 12．0软件进行Meta分析。结果本Meta分析最终纳入了7项病例对照研究,共包括1135例IgAN患者和1603例健康对照者。Meta分析结果表明,IL-1和IL-1RN基因多态性与IgAN风险的增加有关（IL-1：OR=1．33,950ACI=1．15～1．55,P〈0．001;IL-1RN：OR=1．32,95％CI=1．16～1．51,P〈0．001）。然而,在IL-6、IL-10和IL-22R基因多态性中并没有发现此关联性（均P〉0．05）。进一步根据种族不同进行亚组分析发现,无论是亚洲人群还是欧美人群,IL-1和IL-1RN基因多态性与IgAN风险的增加均存在明显相关性（亚洲人群：OR=1．58,95％CI=1．17～2．13,P=0．003;欧美人群：OR=1．53,95％CI=1．22～1．92,P＜0．001）。结论ILl和IL-1RN基因多态性可能与IgAN易感性增加有关,它可能是IgAN早期诊断和预后判定的重要分子标志物。     

Polymorphisms of the tumour necrosis factor alpha gene at position -308 and TNFd microsatellite in primary IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: The development of glomerular inflammation in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) has been associated with various cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha). A biallelic polymorphism in the promoter region of the TNFalpha gene (TNFA), at position -308, has been described (TNFA-1 and TNFA-2) and is associated with increased TNFalpha production for the TNFA-2 allele. Another microsatellite polymorphism has been described for TNFd, which is functional and associated with increased production of TNFalpha for the d3 allele. METHODS: We have studied these two polymorphisms in 242 Caucasian patients with biopsy-proven IgAN (169 male, 73 female), who were followed from 1990 to 1999, and in 210 appropriate local Caucasian controls (133 male, 77 female) for comparison of genotypes and allelic distribution. RESULTS: The respective frequencies of A1/A1, A1/A2 and A2/A2 TNFA genotypes were 76.4, 22.3 and 1.3% in IgAN vs 78.1, 19.5 and 2.4% in controls (P=NS). For TNFd, the frequencies of the respective genotypes d3/d3, d3/non-d3 and non-d3/non-d3 were significantly different (chi(2)=12.30, P=0.002, Pc=0.013) with an increased frequency of the low-producer genotype non-d3/non-d3 in IgAN patients (24 vs 12%). The combination of TNFA and TNFd polymorphisms demonstrated that compared with controls, patients with non-A2 and non-d3 alleles (low producers) were more common (18 vs 9%; P=0.006). In the genotype/clinical phenotype correlations, we could not demonstrate significant differences between the different subgroups of patients. However, high-producer TNFalpha patients (A2 and d3 alleles) had more chronic renal failure than others (36.6 vs 22.9%) at last follow-up and their survival without chronic renal failure (Kaplan-Meier) was lower. Nevertheless, TNFalpha polymorphisms were not an independent risk factor for the progression of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: TNFA and TNFd polymorphisms seem to influence the occurrence or initiation of the disease, but do not play a significant role, if any, in the progression of IgA nephritis.     

Association of interleukin-10 gene G-1082A polymorphism with the progression of primary glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine with immunosuppressive properties. We evaluated the influence of G-1082A polymorphism in the IL-10 gene promoter, which has been associated with modified IL-10 production, on the two most common forms of primary glomerulonephritis: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). METHODS: We studied Caucasian patients (N= 191) with biopsy-proven glomerulonephritis (IgAN: N= 123, FSGS: N= 68) followed-up for 6.5 +/- 5.5 years. Patients were classified according to the slope of reciprocal serum creatinine (>/= or <-0.1 dL(*)mg(-1) (*)year(-1)) into group A (slow progressors, IgAN: N= 75, FSGS: N= 47) and group B (fast progressors, IgAN: N= 48, FSGS: N= 21). One hundred healthy volunteers were analyzed as control patients. G-1082A polymorphism was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. RESULTS: The allele frequencies were similar in patients and control group (NS). Initial renal function, proteinuria, and blood pressure did not differ significantly between patients with different genotypes. G-1082A polymorphism was associated with the progression of both IgAN and FSGS: GA/AA genotypes were more frequent in group B (fast progressors) than in group A (slow progressors; P= 0.012 for IgAN, P < 0.05 for FSGS). Patients with the GA/AA genotypes showed a worse outcome in the Kaplan-Meier analysis of renal survival (P < 0.05 for both IgAN and FSGS). The IL-10 polymorphism remained an independent risk factor for progression in multivariate analysis (Cox regression model, P < 0.05 for IgAN and FSGS). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that IL-10 gene G-1082A polymorphism is an important marker of progression in patients with IgAN and FSGS.