N Buchs1, T Silvestri, F S di Giovine, M Chabaud, E Vannier, G W Duff, P Miossec. 1. Departments of Immunology and Rheumatology, Hôpital Edouard Herriot, Lyon, France, Division of Molecular and Genetic Medicine, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Sheffield, UK and. Department of Medicine, Tufts University.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of variants of the interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) genes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their possible contribution to joint destruction. METHODS: Allelic frequencies for polymorphisms in the IL-4 [variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in intron 3] and IL-4 receptor alpha chain (transition at nucleotide 1902) genes were assessed in 335 RA patients and 104 controls. Clinical indices of disease activity, disability and joint destruction and plasma levels of IL-1beta, IL-1Ra and sCD23 were assessed to evaluate a possible functional effect. RESULTS: Carriage of the rare IL-4(2) allele was higher in patients with non-destructive RA (40%) than in those with destructive RA (22.3%; odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1. 1-3.5, P = 0.0006) and in controls (26%, P = 0.002). Patients positive for this rare allele had significantly less joint destruction, assessed by the Larsen wrist index (P = 0.004) and a lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.04). A significantly higher carriage rate of IL-4(2) was seen in HLA-DR4/DR1(-) patients with non-destructive RA than in those with destructive RA. The IL-4 receptor polymorphism was not over-represented. Plasma levels of IL-1beta, IL-1Ra and sCD23, known to be modified by IL-4, were not different in individuals having different alleles. CONCLUSION: This IL-4 VNTR gene polymorphism may be a protective factor for severe joint destruction in RA that could be used as a prognostic marker early in the course of the disease.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the occurrence of variants of the interleukin 4 (IL-4) and IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) genes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their possible contribution to joint destruction. METHODS: Allelic frequencies for polymorphisms in the IL-4 [variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in intron 3] and IL-4 receptor alpha chain (transition at nucleotide 1902) genes were assessed in 335 RA patients and 104 controls. Clinical indices of disease activity, disability and joint destruction and plasma levels of IL-1beta, IL-1Ra and sCD23 were assessed to evaluate a possible functional effect. RESULTS: Carriage of the rare IL-4(2) allele was higher in patients with non-destructive RA (40%) than in those with destructive RA (22.3%; odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval 1. 1-3.5, P = 0.0006) and in controls (26%, P = 0.002). Patients positive for this rare allele had significantly less joint destruction, assessed by the Larsen wrist index (P = 0.004) and a lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.04). A significantly higher carriage rate of IL-4(2) was seen in HLA-DR4/DR1(-) patients with non-destructive RA than in those with destructive RA. The IL-4 receptor polymorphism was not over-represented. Plasma levels of IL-1beta, IL-1Ra and sCD23, known to be modified by IL-4, were not different in individuals having different alleles. CONCLUSION: This IL-4 VNTR gene polymorphism may be a protective factor for severe joint destruction in RA that could be used as a prognostic marker early in the course of the disease.
Authors: H Marotte; B Pallot-Prades; L Grange; J Tebib; P Gaudin; C Alexandre; J L Blond; M A Cazalis; B Mougin; P Miossec Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2005-08-11 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Concepción Nuñez; Jose Luis Santiago; Jezabel Varadé; Hermenegildo de la Calle; M Angeles Figueredo; Benjamín Fernandez-Gutierrez; Emilio G de la Concha; Elena Urcelay; Alfonso Martínez Journal: Immunogenetics Date: 2007-12-07 Impact factor: 2.846
Authors: B A Gyan; B Goka; J T Cvetkovic; J L Kurtzhals; V Adabayeri; H Perlmann; A-K Lefvert; B D Akanmori; M Troye-Blomberg Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2004-10 Impact factor: 4.330