G241R and K469E polymorphisms of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) could predispose to Hashimoto thyroiditis.

This study examined firstly the possible association of G241R and K469E single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ICAM-1 gene with the occurrence of Hashimoto thyroiditis (HT). G241R and K469E SNPs in DNA from peripheral blood leukocytes of 190 HT and 247 healthy controls were investigated by real-time PCR combined with melting curve analysis using fluorescence-labeled hybridization probes. There was a significant increase of ICAM-1 241R allele frequency in patients with HT compared with healthy controls (P = 0.04, OR = 1.84, 95 % CI = 1.00-3.37). Regarding ICAM-1 K469E polymorphism, patients homozygous for E allele had 1.73-fold increased risk for developing HT according to KK homozygotes (P = 0.04, 95 % CI = 1.00-3.01). The 469E allele frequency was higher in HT patients according to controls, however the difference was at borderline significance (P = 0.05, OR = 1.30, 95 % CI = 1.00-1.70). No associations between polymorphisms and HT phenotypes were observed. We suggest that the G241R and K469E SNPs of ICAM-1 gene may be related to occurrence of HT. However, more studies with larger sample size including other loci of the ICAM-1 gene are necessary to support our findings before any definite statement can be made about the relationship between HT and ICAM-1 polymorphism.