ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is recognized as a proinflammatory host alert cytokine that is synthesized early during inflammation, and elevations of this cytokine have been reported in patients with allergic rhinitis. The TNF-alpha gene is located on chromosome 6p within the class III region of the major histocompatibility complex. The most widely studied polymorphism within the TNF-alpha gene involves a guanine (G)/adenine (A) substitution at position -308. We therefore tested whether TNF-alpha -308G/A polymorphism are associated with allergic rhinitis in a Korean population. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Blood samples for genetic analysis were obtained from 191 individuals with allergic rhinitis and from 192 healthy subjects without atopic diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-based assay for TNF-alpha -308G/A was used for genotyping. Serum total IgE levels were determined by using the immunoassay. Eosinophil values were determined by eosinophil numbers per total cell numbers per microliter. RESULTS: There were no differences in the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of TNF-alpha -308G/A in the controls and patients(p>0.05). Blood eosinophil count and total serum IgE levels were not statistically different in the genotypes of TNF-alpha -308G/A in allergic rhinitis(p>0.05). CONCLUSION: We thought that the TNF-alpha -308G/A polymorphism is unlikely to be an important marker for predisposition to allergic rhinitis. A further study involving a larger Korean population might be in need.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alleles , Cell Count , Eosinophils , Genotype , Guanine , Immunoassay , Immunoglobulin E , Inflammation , Major Histocompatibility Complex , Rhinitis , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alphaABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Human basophils and mast cells play a central role in allergic disease. The beta subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcepsilonRIbeta) gene is one of the candidate genes for atopy because of its important role in initiating type I allergic reaction in mast cells and basophils. We therefore tested whether Gly237Glu variants of FcepsilonRIbeta are associated with atopy in the Korean population. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Blood samples for genetic analysis were obtained from 175 individuals with allergic rhinitis and from 191 healthy subjects without atopic diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-based assay for FcepsilonRIbeta Glu237Gly was used for genotyping. Serum total IgE levels were determined by using the immunoassay. Eosinophil values were determined by eosinophil numbers per total cell numbers per microliteriter. RESULTS: There were no differences in the frequencies of the genotypes and alleles of FcepsilonRIbeta between the controls and patients (p>0.05). Blood eosinophil count and total serum IgE levels were not statistically different in the genotypes of FcepsilonRIbeta in allergic rhinitis (p>0.05). Although statistical significance of genotypes of FcepsilonRIbeta was not observed with respect to gender in allergic rhinitis (p=0.057), mutant genotype was two times more prevalent in male patients than in female patients. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest the FcepsilonRIbeta Glu237Gly polymorphism does not affect the susceptibility of Koreans to allergic rhinitis. But our finding indicates that, males as opposed to females, might be predisposed to have the mutant genotype.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Alleles , Basophils , Cell Count , Eosinophils , Genotype , Hypersensitivity , Immunoassay , Immunoglobulin E , Mast Cells , RhinitisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Glutathione S-transferase (GST) enzymes have an important role in preventing the build-up of reactive oxygen species. Polymorphisms in genes involved in response to oxidative stress may play a role in the susceptibility to allergic diseases in human. A common homozygous deletion(null type) polymorphism of the GST gene abolishes the antioxidative enzyme activity. We investigated whether the profile of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes might be associated with the risk of allergic rhinitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Blood samples for genetic analysis were obtained from 287 individuals with allergic rhinitis and from 262 healthy subjects without atopic diseases. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based assay for GSTM1and GSTT1 was used for genotyping. RESULTS: The null genotype was more frequent in controls and the frequencies of the genotypes of GSTM1 were statistically different between controls and patients (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that the GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphism is not associated with the susceptibility to allergic rhinitis in Koreans.
Subject(s)
Humans , Genotype , Glutathione Transferase , Glutathione , Oxidative Stress , Reactive Oxygen Species , RhinitisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) gene has been suggested as a candidate gene for atopic diseases. The IL-4R consists of two subunits: the alpha chain (IL-4Ralpha), which is a high-affinity IL-4 binding site shared with the IL-13R, and the common gamma chain shared with several other cytokine receptors that amplifies signalling of the alpha chain. A Gln551Arg polymorphism of the IL-4Ralpha gene was shown to be a gain-of-function mutation and was associated with atopy. We tested whether a Gln551Arg polymorphism of IL-4Ralpha gene is associated with allergic rhinitis, blood eosinophil counts and total serum IgE levels in the Korean population. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Blood samples for genetic analysis were obtained from 192 individuals with allergic rhinitis and from 191 healthy subjects without atopic diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-based assay for IL-4Ralpha Gln551Arg was used for genotyping. Serum total IgE levels were determined by using the immunoassay. Eosinophil values were determined by eosinophil numbers per total cell numbers per microL . RESULTS: There were no differences in the frequencies of the genotypes of IL-4Ralpha in the controls and patients (p>0.05). The frequencies of the IL-4Ralpha Arg551 allele were statistically different between controls and patients (p>0.05). Blood eosinophil count and total serum IgE levels were not statistically different in the genotypes of IL-4Ralpha Gln551Arg in allergic rhinitis (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that the IL-4Ralpha Gln551Arg polymorphism might not give susceptibility to the development of allergic rhinitis in Koreans.
Subject(s)
Humans , Alleles , Binding Sites , Cell Count , Eosinophils , Genotype , Immunoassay , Immunoglobulin E , Interleukin-4 , Receptors, Cytokine , Receptors, Interleukin-4 , RhinitisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: High total serum IgE level is one of the characteristics seen in allergic rhinitis. IL-13 provides impetus to immunoglobulin class switching to IgE. The IL-13 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism has been shown to be associated with allergic diseases and abnormal IL-13 production. We tested whether a polymorphism in the coding region of IL-13 gene is associated with allergic rhinitis, blood eosinophil counts and total serum IgE levels in Korean. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Blood samples for genetic analysis were obtained from 307 individuals with allergic rhinitis and from 268 healthy subjects without atopic diseases. Polymerase chain reaction-based assay for IL-13 exon 4 G2044A was used for genotyping. Serum total IgE levels were determined by using the immunoassay. Eosinophil values were determined by eosinophil numbers per total cell numbers per microl. RESULTS: There were no differences in the frequencies of the genotypes of IL-13 in the controls and patients (p>0.05). The frequencies of the IL-13 exon 4 2044A allele were statistically different between controls and patients (p0.05). CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that the IL-13 exon 4 G2044A polymorphism might give susceptibility to the development of allergic rhinitis in Koreans.