Interleukin-18 and IL18 ?607A/C and ?137G/C Gene Polymorphisms in Patients with Penicillin Allergy

摘要

This study investigated the association between polymorphisms (?607A/C and ?137G/C) in the promoter region of the IL18 gene (which encodes interleukin [IL]-18) and serum levels of IL-18, using standard genotyping techniques (sequence specific primer—polymerase chain reaction) and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively, in patients allergic to penicillin. A higher frequency of A alleles and the AA genotype was found at position ?607A/C in patients allergic to penicillin than in control subjects. For the ?137G/C position, the C allele was more frequent in patients allergic to penicillin than in control subjects. Haplotype analysis showed that the ?607A/?137C haplotype was more frequent in patients allergic to penicillin than in control subjects. The patients had a significantly higher serum IL-18 level than the control subjects. In conclusion, IL18 ?607A/C and ?137G/C promoter polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to penicillin allergy. In particular, the ?137G/C position appears to play an important role in IL18 expression.