Relationship of TNF-A-308, IL-10–1082 gene polymorphisms with the severity and susceptibility of rheumatic heart disease in Turkish children

Abstract

Aim. Acute rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease developing after upper respiratory tract infection with group A streptoccoci and its most important complication is rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL) –1–1082 gene polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to develop rheumatic heart disease. The aim of our study is to determine the frequency of IL-10–1082 A/G and TNF-α-308 G/A gene polymorphism in Turkish population and to investigate the relationship between these polymorphisms and rheumatic heart disease. Material and Methods. Genotypes of 57 unrelated children with rheumatic heart disease and 99 controls were determined by use of PCR-RFLP. Results. No significant differences were found in genotypes or allele frequencies of TNF-α-308 and IL-10–1082 genes between RHD and control group. There was no relation between TNF-α-308 genotype and allel distribution with valvular involvement (p>0.05). IL-10–1082 GG and AG genotypes were seen more frequent in patients with multiple valvular disease but there was no statistical significance (p>0.05). Conclusion. As a result, there was no relationship between TNF-α-308, IL-10– 1082 gene polymorphisms and rheumatic heart disease or valvular involvement in the study population (p>0,05). Our results are thought that TNF-α-308 polymorphisms are silent and may become important only with some certain HLA allels. Further studies checking both cytokine polymorphism and HLA allels are needed. .