Cytokine gene polymorphisms in allergic contact dermatitis.

Abstract

Susceptibility to contact allergy may be influenced by genetically determined alterations in the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. This report focuses on functional polymorphisms in the genes encoding for several cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of contact allergic responses, including tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha (G-238 A, G-308 A), interleukin (IL)-1beta (C-511G, T+ 3953C), its natural antagonist, the IL-1 receptor antagonist (VNTR intron 2), and IL-6 (G-174C). Polymorphisms were investigated by PCR techniques among polysensitized individuals, defined as individuals with confirmed contact sensitization to para-substituted aryl compounds and at least one other structurally unrelated allergen (n = 86), and healthy control individuals without a history of eczema (n = 310). The distribution of TNFA-308 genotypes was significantly different in these groups (Padjusted= 0.0378). Compared with carriers of 2 wild-type alleles (TNFA-308*1/1 (*G/G)), carriers of the TNFA-308*1/2 (*G/A) and TNFA-308*2/2 (*A/A) genotypes tended to be more common among polysensitized individuals [OR = 1.54, 95% CI (0.92-2.55) and OR = 2.36 (0.84-6.51), respectively]. No significantly different distribution of genotypes was detected at any other polymorphic loci among control individuals without eczema and polysensitized subjects. These findings suggest a possible relationship between the TNFA-308 polymorphism and contact allergy. The results need to be confirmed in future studies.

• Authors: Götz A Westphal, Axel Schnuch, Rotraut Moessner, Inke R König, Birger Kränke, Ernst Hallier, Andreas Ziegler, Kristian Reich
• Journal: Contact dermatitis (Contact Dermatitis) Vol. 48 Issue 2 Pg. 93-8 (Feb 2003) ISSN: 0105-1873 [Print] England
• PMID: 12694213 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, Controlled Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• Interleukin-1
• Receptors, Interleukin-1
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics

• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Alleles
• Austria (epidemiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cytokines (genetics)
• Dermatitis, Allergic Contact (epidemiology, genetics)
• Dermatitis, Atopic (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genotype
• Humans
• Incidence
• Interleukin-1 (analysis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Probability
• Receptors, Interleukin-1 (genetics)
• Reference Values
• Sex Distribution
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (genetics)