Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 1/D polymorphism in Behcet's disease

ABSTRACT

To investigate a potential relationship between I/D polymorphism within intron 16 of the angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] gene located on human chromosome 17 and Behcet's disease. Materials and Genomic DNA was obtained from 35 Turkish patients diagnosed with Behcet's disease according to the International Study Group criteria and 150 healthy individuals. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the presence of I and D [insertion and deletion] alleles in intron 16 of the ACE gene in these DNA samples. We found differences in ACE I/D polymorphism between Behcet's disease and healthy controls [x2 = 4.61, d.f. = 1, p = 0.044]. In Behcet's disease patients, the D allele frequency was 84.3% and I allele frequency 15.7%. An association between Behcet's disease and ACE polymorphism may provide a useful basis for future molecular studies and therapeutic approaches in this complex disease