Molecular genetic analysis of polymorphisms pertaining to the susceptibility to chronic asthma in Egyptian patients

Background: Asthma is a multifactorial inflammatory disorder that might result from the interaction of multiple genes and environmental factors. Several studies of genetic epidemiology have reported the association of cytokine genes with asthma among various populations. However, the results are inconsistent and inconclusive. Objective: To determine the association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with asthma susceptibility in adult Egyptian cases. Subjects: The study included, 50 adult Egyptian asthmatic cases with a mean age of 53.62 ± 14.61 years in addition to 98 healthy individuals as control. For all participants, DNA was isolated from peripheral blood samples and analyzed for TNF-α-308 G > A, IL-10-1082 G > A, IL-6-174 G > C and IL-1Ra VNTR polymorphisms. Results: The comparison between the cases and controls has showed significantly higher frequency of the genotypic polymorphisms: IL-10-1082 AG + GG (dominant mode) (76.1% vs. 91.8%, p = 0.01, OR = 0.3, 95% CI (0.1–0.7), TNF-α-308 GA + AA (dominant mode) (72.0% vs. 93.9%, p = 0.001, OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.06–0.47) and IL-1RA VNTR heterozygous genotype A1A2 (90.0% vs. 58.8%, p = 0.0003). Otherwise, compared to controls, cases showed statistically non-significant frequency of genotypes corresponding to IL-6-174 CC + GC vs. GG (dominant mode) (92.0% vs. 94.9%, p = 0.5, OR = 0.6). Conclusions: The IL-10, TNF-α and IL-1Ra allelic variants showed a potent association with chronic asthma among Egyptian cases that might be used as markers with a potential impact on prophylactic and or therapeutic measures for asthma control. Whereas the IL-6-174 allelic variants showed no association with chronic asthma among Egyptian cases

Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Gene Polymorphisms Related to Overweight/Obesity among Saudi Subjects from Qassim Region

Background: This work was planned to check for the association of polymorphisms related to methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) genes with overweight/obesity among Saudi subjects from Qassim region

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with psoriasis in cases from the Nile Delta of Egypt

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with an immunogenetic background. This work was planned to check for the association of polymorphisms related to cytokine genes TNF-α-308 (G/A), IL-10 -1082 (G/A), IL-6 -174 (G/C), and IL-1Ra (VNTR) with psoriasis in cases from Egypt. Materials and Methods: This work included 46 cases with psoriasis recruited from the Dermatology Departments, University Hospitals, Nile Delta region of Egypt. They included 14 males and 32 females with an age mean ± SD of 46.68 ± 12.16 years and range of 15-70 years. Their genotypes were compared to 98 healthy controls of matched age and sex from the same locality. Genotyping was done through deoxyribonucleic acid amplification using PCR with sequence specific primers for polymorphic alleles. Results: Compared to controls, cases showed significant higher frequency of certain genotypes including IL-6 -174 CC (P < 0.001, OR = 6.7), IL-10 -1082 GG ( P < 0.05, OR = 5.1), and TNF-α-308 GG ( P < 0.05, OR = 3.7). TNF-α-308 GG and IL-10 -1082 GG genotypes were higher among cases with plaque subtype of moderate severity. Combined heterozygosity for IL-10 GA, IL-6 GC with TNF GA showed a significant low frequency among studied cases. Conclusion: Genetic polymorphisms related to IL6, IL10, and TNF-α genes showed a particular pattern of association with psoriasis that may have a potential impact on disease counseling and management