Detection of two functional polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL-18 gene by single-tube allele specific PCR and melting temperature analysis.

IL-18 is an important cytokine in both innate and acquired immunity. IL-18 promoter polymorphisms have been investigated in several autoimmune and infectious diseases. Here we present two assays for a medium to a high throughput genotyping of C-607A and G-137C IL-18 SNPs. Using these protocols we have been able to rapidly genotype a cohort of 131 healthy Italian individuals. The assays, based on a multiplex allele-specific PCR and the melting temperature analysis of the PCR product, are rapid, easily automated, inexpensive and well suited to case-control association studies.