Interleukin-18 and its three gene polymorphisms relating to allergic rhinitis.

The study aimed to examine an association of three different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL-18 gene (-607 C/A, -137 G/C and -133 C/G) on chromosome 11q22 with allergic rhinitis (AR). Genotyping for the SNPs was performed using 539 patients with AR and 312 healthy control volunteers. Positivity to the skin prick test for the fungus Alternaria sp.

Association study of promoter polymorphisms within the NOS3 gene and allergic diseases.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of physiologic and pathologic processes in the airways. On this basis, we hypothesized that polymorphisms in the NOS3 gene could be associated with the disease process.

Methods: Two promoter variants (-786C/T and -691C/T) were examined in a Caucasian Czech population of allergic patients [n = 671, with a subgroup of asthmatics (n = 305)] and healthy controls (n = 334) using PCR-RFLP analyses.

Haplotype analysis of the RAGE gene: identification of a haplotype marker for diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) represents a devastating complication of diabetes. Family clustering, heterogeneity in the onset and progression and results of segregation studies indicate that susceptibility to DN is a complex trait.

Methods: Common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the RAGE (receptor of advanced glycation end-products) gene (-429T/C, -374T/A, G82S, 1704G/T, 2184A/G and 2245G/A) were studied in the association study comprising 605 Caucasian subjects by means of haplotype analysis in order to identify an eventual haplotype marker for DN in type 2 diabetes.

Analysis of the interleukin-6 gene promoter polymorphisms in Czech patients with chronic periodontitis.

Background: Chronic periodontitis is an inflammatory disease, which is a major cause of tooth loss. The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) are key regulators of the host response to microbial infection and major modulators of extracellular matrix catabolism and bone resorption. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations of chronic periodontitis with IL-6 gene polymorphisms (at positions -597 [G/A], -572 [G/C], and -174 [G/C]).

Polymorphisms in angiotensinogen gene (M235T and G(-6)A) in multifactorial diseases.

The aim of the study is to compare results of three association (case-control) studies in three multifactorial disorders (essential hypertension, atopic diseases and psoriasis) with two polymorphisms of angiotensinogen gene (M235T and A(-6)G). The diseases were chosen for their multigenic base and different immunological characteristic (Th1, Th2 and Thps) and angiotensinogen gene for its pleiotropic functional effects in general adaptive reactions. In all (control as well as case) groups, tight linkage disequilibrium between the polymorphisms was found.