Association between CD40 promoter polymorphism (rs1800686, −508 C/T) and ischemic stroke with hypertension in a Korean population

Association between interleukin 18 polymorphisms and alopecia areata in Koreans

Interleukin 18 (interferon gamma-inducing factor) (IL18) is an important proinflammatory cytokine that belongs to the IL1 family. This study investigated whether IL18 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with the susceptibility to alopecia areata (AA) in a Korean population. Two hundred thirty-three AA patients and 243 healthy control subjects were recruited. One promoter SNP (rs187238, -137G/C) and exonic SNP (rs549908, Ser35Ser) in IL18 were genotyped using direct sequencing. SNPStats, SPSS 18.0, and Haploview version 4.2 programs were used to evaluate genetic data. Multiple logistic regression models were used to determine odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and P values. Tested 2 SNPs (rs187238 and rs549908) were associated with the development of AA (rs187238, P=0.002 in a codominant model 1, P=0.0048 in a dominant model, P=0.02 in a log-additive model, P=0.023 in allele distribution; rs549908, P=0.003 in a codominant model 1, P=0.0052 in a dominant model, P=0.016 in a log-additive model, P=0.015 in allele distribution). Our data suggest that the IL18 may be a risk factor for AA susceptibility.

T Allele of nonsense polymorphism (rs2039381, Gln71Stop) of interferon-ε is a risk factor for the development of intracerebral hemorrhage

Interferons (IFNs) play key roles in various biologic responses including antiviral and immune reactions. We evaluated one possible risk factor in nonsense polymorphism (rs2039381, Gln71Stop) of interferon-ε (IFNE). We recruited stroke [119 ischemic stroke (IS) and 145 intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)] and control (401), respectively. The nonsense SNP (rs2039381, Gln71Stop) of IFNE was selected. We identified individual genotype using sequencing. SNPStats and SPSS 18.0 programs were used to analyze genetic data. Genotype frequencies (C/C:C/T:T/T) in the ICH group and control group were 59.3:37.9:2.8 and 73.6:23.4:3.0, respectively. We found that rs2039381 was associated with ICH (OR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.33-3.03, p = 0.001 in codominant1 model; OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.28-2.84, p = 0.0016 in dominant model; OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.14-2.26, p = 0.0074 in log-additive model). T allele frequency of rs2039381 was significantly higher in ICH than in controls. The nonsense SNP (rs2039381, Gln71Stop) of IFNE was associated with ICH (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.14-2.26, p = 0.006). A nonsense SNP (rs2039381, Gln71Stop) of IFNE was associated with ICH in Korean population. Our findings raise the possibility that the T allele of rs2039381 is a risk factor which is susceptible to ICH.