<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Recent studies suggest that
T cell dysfunction, especially
IL-4 , may be involved in the pathogenesis of
steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS). The aim of this study was to investigate the
association between the polymorphisms in variable numbers of
tandem repeat region (VTR) of
IL-4 gene and childhood SSNS.</p><p><b>
METHOD </b>The polymorphism in the
IL-4 gene was identified by using the
polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing
methods in 55
Chinese children with SSNS,
who were followed-up for at least 1 year, and 115 healthy
Chinese adult blood donors as controls. A
variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) region polymorphisms of
IL-4 gene were detected, and
alleles were designated as
IL-4 B1 and B2, corresponding to 2 and 3 repeats, respectively. The
serum IgE was also examined in 48
patients before the
steroid treatment .</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) There were no significant differences in the
genotype and
allele frequencies between
patients with SSNS and normal controls (P > 0.05). (2) The frequencies of B1B1 (96.4%) were significantly higher in SSNS
children with frequent
relapses (28
patients had more than 3
relapses during the first year of the
disease ) than in 27
patients without frequent
relapses (P < 0.05). (3) Twenty-three
patients with frequent
relapses showed higher levels of
serum IgE (1.98 +/- 0.23 g/L) than 25
patients (
IgE 1.05 +/- 0.19 g/L) without frequent
relapses (P < 0.05), and the
patients with B1B1 (38
patients ) also had higher
serum IgE levels than
patients with B1B2 and B2B2 (10
patients ) (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The results suggest that
IL-4 VNTR B1B1
genotype might be a predictor for the frequent
relapse in childhood SSNS in
Chinese .</p>