Distribution of CTLA-4 polymorphisms in allergic asthma

BACKGROUND: The CTLA-4 molecule is an important negative regulator of T cell activation. It is encoded on chromosome 2q33 and found to be associated with several allergic phenotypes including asthma. However, the association of CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms with allergic asthma is still controversial and therefore was the subject of this study. METHODS: By PCR-RFLP, the distribution of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), -1147 C/T, -318 C/T, and +49 A/G, was examined in 219 Polish Caucasoid patients diagnosed with allergic asthma and in 102 ethnically matched healthy control individuals. (AT)(n) microsatellite polymorphism was also tested in the same individuals. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in SNPs or microsatellite allele, genotype or haplotype frequencies between patients and controls were found. CONCLUSION: CTLA-4 polymorphisms do not seem to be a risk factor for allergic asthma in Poles.