Interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms in chronic idiopathic urticaria

Background - This study was performed to evaluate association of gene polymorphisms among proinflammatory cytokines and susceptibility to chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). Methods - Ninety patients with prolonged urticaria more than 6 weeks were included as case group. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-6 (G/C −174, G/A nt565) and TNF-α (G/A −308, G/A −238) were evaluated, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR); and the results were compared to the control group. Results - G allele was significantly higher in the patients at locus of −238 of promoter of TNF-α gene (pConclusions - Pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms can affect susceptibility to CIU. TNF-α promoter polymorphisms as well as IL-6 gene polymorphisms are associated with CIU