Association of 86 bp variable number tandem repeat polymorphism of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene with lumbar disc disease / 南方医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the association of 86 bp variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene with lumbar disc disease and intervertebral disc degeneration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The 86 bp VNTR polymorphism of IL-1Ra gene was analyzed with PCR and electrophoresis for 81 patients with lumbar disc disease and 101 volunteers without sciatica (control). The grade of intervertebral disc degeneration was determined with magnetic resonance imaging, and the association of 86 bp VNTR polymorphisms with lumbar disc disease and intervertebral disc degeneration in those younger than 45 years was assessed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The presence of 86bp VNTR polymorphisms of IL-1Ra gene was detected in both patients with lumbar disc disease and the control subjects. The distribution of 86 bp VNTR polymorphisms of IL-1Ra gene showed no significant difference between the two groups, but the distributions of 1/1, 1/2 and 2/2 or 1, 2 genotypes differed significantly. The current data did not support a significant association between the distribution of IL-1Ra gene 86bp VNTR polymorphism and lumbar disc degeneration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IL-1Ra gene 86bp VNTR polymorphism is present among Chinese population in association with lumbar disc disease, but not with lumbar disc degeneration.</p>