Correlation between some Th1 and Th2 cytokine receptor gene polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese patients

IL-4Rα (rs1801275) A>G polymorphism in Egyptian immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients: a single center experience

INTRODUCTION

Chronic immune thrombocytopenia (cITP) is characterized by dysregulation of the immune response. Until recently, the role of Th2-related cytokine gene polymorphisms was unclear. Interleukin 4 (IL-4) exerts its functions by binding to three types of IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) complexes. We aimed to explore the potential association between the gene polymorphism of IL-4Rα and cITP.

METHODS

We investigated the clinical impact of the IL-4Rα (rs1801275) A>G single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method in 82 cITP patients and 60 healthy controls (HCs).

RESULTS

The IL-4Rα (rs1801275) A>G polymorphism analysis showed the mutant GG genotype was significantly higher in control females (p = 0.033). The wild AA genotype had a higher bleeding score (p = 0.02) in the adulthood onset group. Furthermore, the wild AA genotype in the cITP childhood onset group was significantly associated with the disease severity, as well as the response to treatment (p = 0.040).

CONCLUSION

The mutant G allele is protective against the susceptibility to cITP in the Egyptian females. The IL-4Rα (rs1801275) A>G polymorphism may affect the clinical severity of cITP and treatment response in the Egyptian population.

IL-4Rα Polymorphism Is Associated With Myasthenia Gravis in Chinese Han Population

Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a potent growth and differentiation factor for B cells which play a vital role in the pathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG). IL-4 exerts its function by binding to three types of IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) complexes. IL-4Rα is the key component of the IL-4R complex. We hypothesize that polymorphism of IL-4Rα gene may be associated with the susceptibility and severity of MG. A Chinese cohort of 480 MG patients and 487 healthy controls were recruited. Polymorphisms of IL-4Rα gene were determined with SNPscan™ methods and compared between MG and control groups, as well as among MG subgroups. Rs2107356 and rs1805010 were found to be associated with adult thymoma associated MG, and rs1801275 was found to be associated with adult non-thymoma AChR-Ab positive MG. We did not found association between IL-4Rα polymorphism and the severity of MG. Genetic variations of IL-4Rα were found associated with the susceptibility of MG in Chinese Han population.

Role of interleukin-10 and interleukin-10 receptor in systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypic autoimmune disease characterized by excessive production of a variety of autoantibodies, accumulation of immune complexes, and multiple organ systems involvement. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has an important role in the growth, survival, differentiation, and function of B cells. Abnormally increased IL-10 synthesis seems contributing to the spontaneous hyperactivity of the B cell compartment, so that it can directly result in autoantibody production by committed plasma cells, circulating immune complexes formation, and eventually in tissue and organ damage, suggesting it might associate with the development of SLE. A better understanding of the regulation of IL-10 and its receptors (IL-10R) can likely provide more valuable clues to the pathogenic mechanisms underlying specific forms of SLE, so as to pave the way toward more effective therapeutics.

Associations between interleukin-10 polymorphisms and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The study determined whether interleukin-10 (IL-10) polymorphisms confer susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the IL-10-1082 G/A, -819 C/T, -592 C/A polymorphisms and the haplotype of the IL-10-1082 G/A, -819 C/T, -592 C/A polymorphisms and SLE.

RESULTS

A total of 19 studies involving 2828 SLE patients and 4008 controls were considered in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis of the IL-10-1082 G/A polymorphism revealed an association between SLE and the IL-10-1082 G allele (odds ratio [OR] = 1.158, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.051-1.276, p = 0.003). Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the IL-10-1082 G allele and SLE in Europeans (OR=1.160, 95% CI = 1.039-1.296, p = 0.008). Meta-analysis stratified by ethnicity produced an association between the IL-10-819 C allele and SLE in Asians (OR = 1.308, 95% CI = 1.030-1.619, p = 0.027). Meta-analysis of the homozygous GCC/GCC haplotype failed to show a significant association with SLE in Europeans (OR = 1.223, 95% CI=0.981-1.526, p = 0.074). However, meta-analysis of the GCC haplotype revealed a significant association with RA in all study subjects (OR = 1.402, 95% CI = 1.001-1.964, p = 0.049). Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the GCC haplotype and SLE in Europeans (OR = 1.656, 95% CI = 1.087-2.523, p = 0.019), but not in Asians (OR = 1.100, 95% CI = 0.703-1.721, p = 0.677). Meta-analysis of homozygous ATA/ATA haplotype failed to show a significant association with SLE in overall and European groups. However, meta-analysis of the ATA haplotype revealed a significant association with SLE in all study subjects (OR = 1.516, 95% CI = 1.039-2.213, p = 0.031) and Asians (OR = 2.580, 95% CI = 2.086-3.192, p < 1 × 10(-9)), but not in Europeans (OR = 1.233, 95% CI = 0.816-1.862, p = 0.320).

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis suggests that the IL-10 polymorphisms confer susceptibility to SLE in Europeans and in Asians.

Missense polymorphisms within IL-10R1 exons are not associated with systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese

OBJECTIVE

Studies have suggested that interleukin-10 receptor1 (IL-10R1) is involved in genetic susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in animal models and Caucasians. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine whether the IL-10R1 gene plays a role in the pathogenesis of human SLE in the Chinese Han population.

METHODS

The seven exons of the IL-10R1 gene were amplified and sequenced using a BigDye Terminator v1.1 Cycle Sequencing kit and an ABI 3100 DNA Analyzer. A missense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) locus with a minor allele frequency of at least 0.1 was chosen to evaluate the correlation with the incidence of SLE.

RESULTS

Seven SNPs were found to reside in the exons of the IL-10R1 gene. Among the SNPs, A744G was evaluated for a correlation with the incidence of SLE because A744G was the only missense SNP with a minor allele frequency of at least 0.1. There was no significant difference in the distribution of the A and G alleles between the SLE patient group and the healthy control group (P = 0.693). Furthermore, the genotype frequencies of A744A, A744G and G744G did not differ significantly between the two groups (P = 0.906).

CONCLUSION

In the Chinese Han population, missense SNPs within the exons of the IL-10R1 gene do not contribute to the development of SLE.

mRNA expression of chemokine receptors on peripheral blood mononuclear cells and correlation with clinical features in systemic lupus erythematosus patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expressions of chemokine receptors and interleukin (IL) receptors on the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and their correlations with clinical features as well as SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI).

METHODS

The mRNA expressions of chemokine receptors and IL receptors on PBMCs of 93 SLE patients and 30 healthy controls were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, including CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR6, CCR8, CXCR3, CXCRS, CX3CR1, XCR1, IL-4R, and IL-10R. The clinical features of SLE patients were recorded. The correlations of chemokine receptors and IL receptors mRNA expressions with clinical features as well as SLEDAI were assayed using linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

The level of CCR5 mRNA in SLE patients (including active and inactive SLE) was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between active and inactive patients in this respect (P > 0.05). CX3CR1 mRNA expression significantly increased from healthy control to inactive SLE to active SLE in sequence. The others (except for CCR8, CXCR3, and IL-10R) in active SLE patients were significantly higher than those in both inactive SLE patients and healthy controls (all P < 0.05). There were positive correlations between SLEDAI and CCR2 (r = 0.424, t = 4.313, P < 0.001), CCR3 (r = 0.518, t = 5.410, P < 0.001), CCR4 (r = 0.376, t = 3.851, P < 0.001), CCR6 (r = 0.457, t = 4.513, P < 0.001), CXCR5 (r = 0.455, t = 4.629, P < 0.001), CX3CR1 (r = 0.445, t = 4.523, P < 0.001), as well as XCR1 (r = 0.540, t = 5.445, P < 0.001). And CCR5 mRNA expression level was positively correlated with IL-4R mRNA (r = 0.313, t = 2.353, P < 0.05). The patients with myositis and cutaneous vasculitis simultaneously showed lower levels of CCR5 and CX3CR1, and CCR5 expression was negatively correlated with the scores of SLEDAI in SLE cases accompanied by photosensitivity (r = 0.426, t = -2.155, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Increased expressions of CCR5 and CX3CR1 on PBMCs may be indicators in clinical survey for SLE.