Association between rs6887695 and 3'-untranslated region polymorphisms within the interleukin-12B gene and susceptibility to autoimmune diseases in Asian and European population: A meta-analysis

Factors affecting the resolution of acute non-infectious anterior scleritis

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-⍺) inhibitors are increasingly being used to treat scleritis, however, their efficacy has not been compared to older treatments. Additionally, few studies have assessed differences in the course of scleritis among different patient groups. We identify demographic factors, comorbidities and treatments associated with the resolution of acute scleritis.

METHODS

The records of patients with non-infectious anterior scleritis who presented between 1 January 2013 and 1 January 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 141 patients (169 eyes) with anterior scleritis were identified. 92.9% had diffuse anterior scleritis, 5.0% had nodular anterior scleritis and 2.1% had necrotising scleritis. Topical corticosteroids were used in 66.7% of patients, systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in 48.9% and systemic corticosteroids in 37.6%. Non-corticosteroid immunomodulatory therapies were required in 37.6% of patients. In a Cox proportionate hazards model, factors positively associated with the resolution of an episode of scleritis included NSAID use (HR=2.145; 95% CI 1.200 to 3.832), Hispanic race (HR=2.991; 95% CI 1.115 to 7.341) and lupus erythematous (HR=6.175; 95% CI 1.774 to 21.489). Bilateral scleritis was negatively associated with resolution (HR=0.437; 95% CI 0.196 to 0.972). TNF-⍺ inhibitors (HR=3.346; 95% CI 1.277-8.763), NSAID use (HR=2.558; 95% CI 1.383 to 4.729), lupus erythematosus (HR=5.251; 95% CI 1.478 to 18.659) and Hispanic race (HR=3.198; 95% CI 1.022 to 10.005) were significantly positively associated with steroid sparing resolution.

CONCLUSION

Patient characteristics including a lupus diagnosis and Hispanic race were associated with faster times to symptom resolution and steroid sparing resolution, as were treatments including systemic NSAIDs and TNF-⍺ inhibitors. Due to limitations in the available data, this analysis did not account for disease severity. Future prospective studies will further elucidate the relationship between these factors and patient outcomes.

Association of interleukin-12B rs6887695 with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine encoded by two separate genes, IL12A and IL12B, which may play a regulatory role in allergen-induced inflammation through CD4⁺ T-cell subsets polarization. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL12B gene with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis (AR). We performed a case-control study including 130 AR patients and 130 healthy controls to evaluate the possible association between IL12B gene SNPs (rs3212227, rs6887695) and the risk of AR using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Our results showed no significant association between IL12B rs3212227 A > C polymorphism with AR. In contrast, the GC genotype of rs6887695 G > C was associated with susceptibility to AR in comparison with the GG genotype (p = 0.049, OR = 1.684, 95% CI: 1.002-2.83). We also observed a statistically significant difference in the additive model (GC versus GG + CC, p = 0.03, OR = 1.705, 95% CI: 1.040-2.794) for SNPs rs6887695. Furthermore, haplotypes analysis demonstrated that C-C haplotype was associated with an increased risk of AR (p = 0.01, OR = 1.845, 95% CI: 1.114-3.057). Our findings suggest that IL12B rs6887695 polymorphism may be a potential biomarker for susceptibility to AR in an Iranian population.

Interleukin-12B gene rs6887695 and rs2288831 polymorphisms are associated with an increased risk of ulcerative colitis development in Chinese Han population: A case-control study

Background

The association of the interleukin (IL)‐12B gene rs6887695 and rs2288831 polymorphisms with ulcerative colitis (UC) risk has been extensively investigated, but results are conflicting. In this study, we investigated potential link between the IL‐12B gene rs6887695 and rs2288831 polymorphisms and UC development in Chinese Han population.

Material and Methods

Genotyping was performed in 367 patients and 456 controls through polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Plasma levels of IL‐12B were tested using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

We found that the IL‐12B gene rs6887695 and rs2288831 polymorphisms were related to a significantly increased risk of UC. Subgroup analyses revealed significant associations of the IL‐12B gene rs6887695 and rs2288831 polymorphisms with UC risk among females, consumers of alcohol, and those aged <40 years. Additionally, the rs6887695 and rs2288831 polymorphisms were associated with lesion location and UC treatment. Last, we found that these two polymorphisms were associated with IL‐12B levels.

Conclusions

The IL‐12B gene rs6887695 and rs2288831 polymorphisms were associated with a higher risk, and the clinical characteristics, of UC.

Race/ethnicity is an independent risk factor for autoimmune hepatitis among the San Francisco underserved

Although autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is more common in women and affects people of all races/ethnicities, there is currently limited information regarding the relationship between race/ethnicity and AIH, especially in the context of underserved populations. We aim to evaluate the relationship between race/ethnicity and AIH and better characterize its clinical features among different racial groups. We conducted a 15-year retrospective analysis, from January 2002 to June 2017, of patients seen at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG). Sixty-three AIH patients and 2049 non-AIH controls were eligible for the study. The main predictor of interest was race/ethnicity, and the main outcome of interest was AIH diagnosis; other secondary measures recorded include clinical features such as ALT, bilirubin, and biopsy fibrosis at presentation. In a multivariable model adjusting for age and sex, we found that black (OR 9.6, 95% CI 1.8-178), Latino (OR 25.0, 95% CI 5.3-448), and Asian/Pacific Islander (API) (OR 10.8, 95% CI 2.2-196) race/ethnicity were associated with increased odds of an AIH diagnosis compared to the white reference group. Among people of colour with AIH, there were no significant differences in baseline ALT (p = .45), total bilirubin at presentation (p = .06), fibrosis at presentation (p = .74), and hospitalization (p = .27). Race/ethnicity is an independent risk factor for AIH. The clinical features of AIH did not differ significantly among black, Latino, and API patients.

Polymorphism of the IL13 gene may be associated with Uterine leiomyomas in Slovenian women

Uterine leiomyomas (ULM) are a common cause of solid pelvic tumors in women. Their etiopathogenesis remains unclear. Interleukins (ILs) and their receptors can influence tumor biology of ULM. The aim of this study was to evaluate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) exhibited in the genes IL4 (rs2070874), IL4R (rs1801275), IL12RB1 (rs11575934), IL12B (rs6887695), IL13 (rs20541) and IL23R (rs7517847) as risk factors for ULM in Slovenian women and to identify associations between corresponding clinical parameters and the analyzed SNPs. In addition, solitary and multiple ULM were compared to identify clinical and/or genetic parameters influencing their occurrence. We conducted a case-control study that included 181 women with leiomyomas and 133 control subjects. Genotyping of selected SNPs was performed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and high resolution melting (HRM) techniques. The TT genotype of rs20541 (IL13) was significantly associated with decreased risk of ULM compared to both the CC and CT genotypes [p = 0.018; odds ratio (OR) = 0.184; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.048-0.7121. Using genetic and clinical data to develop a predictive model with logistic regression, we found that adenomyosis, higher age at diagnosis, family history of ULM occurrence, earlier menarche, lower number of pregnancies and lower age at first sexual intercourse, the G allele and genotypes AG and GG of rs1801275 (IL4R) were associated with an increased risk of multiple ULM occurrence. We also found an association between rs20541 (IL13) and 17ß-estradiol serum levels in patients with multiple ULM (p 0.003). Our study showed, for the first time, that rs20541 (IL13) may contribute to susceptibility of ULM development and that rs1801275 (IL4R) can predispose patients to develop multiple ULM.