Contribution from MHC-Mediated Risk in Schizophrenia Can Reflect a More Ethnic-Specific Genetic and Comorbid Background.

The immune system seems to play a significant role in the development of schizophrenia. This becomes more evident with the emerging role of MHC complex and cytokines in schizophrenia. In the recent past, several GWAS have implied that the 6p21 region was associated with schizophrenia.

Pharmacogenetics Based Dose Prediction Model for Initial Tacrolimus Dosing in Renal Transplant Recipients.

Tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant used in solid organ transplantation, has a narrow therapeutic index and exhibits inter-individual pharmacokinetic variability. Achieving and maintaining a therapeutic level of the drug by giving appropriate doses is crucial for successful immunosuppression, especially during the initial post-transplant period. We studied the effect of , , and gene polymorphisms on tacrolimus trough concentrations in South Indian renal transplant recipients from Kerala to formulate a genotype-based dosing equation to calculate the required starting daily dose of tacrolimus to be given to each patient to attain optimal initial post-transplant period drug level.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine response pre-dominates immuno-genetic pathway in development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a crucial inflammatory joint disease characterized by loss of self-tolerance and severe cartilage loss, autoimmune, and subchondral bone erosions. Cytokines are the key regulators of inflammatory responses. Homeostatic imbalances in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine activities can result in pathogenic inflammatory reactions.

Pro-inflammatory cytokines and their epistatic interactions in genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia.

Background: In schizophrenia, genetic background may provide a substrate for intrinsic maldevelopment of the brain through environmental influences, by recruiting neurotrophic factors and cytokines, to trigger the changes that lead to impaired neuronal functions. Cytokines being the key regulators of immune/inflammatory reactions are also known to influence the dopaminergic, noradrenergic, and serotonergic neurotransmission. Therefore, functional polymorphisms in cytokine genes may result in imbalances in the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production.

Pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm is mediated by proinflammatory cytokine TNFA and IFNG and through stochastic regulation of IL10 and TGFB1 by comorbid factors.

Background: Intracranial aneurysm (IA) is often asymptomatic until the time of rupture resulting in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).There is no precise biochemical or phenotype marker for diagnosis of aneurysm. Environmental risk factors that associate with IA can result in modifying the effect of inherited genetic factors and thereby increase the susceptibility to SAH.

Cytokine gene polymorphism (interleukin-1β +3954, Interleukin-6 [-597/-174] and tumor necrosis factor-α -308) in chronic periodontitis with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Pro-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms are potential candidates for susceptibility for both type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic periodontitis (CHP). This study explored the association of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 β) +3954, interleukin-6 (IL-6) -597/-174 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) -308 single nucleotide polymorphisms in CHP with and without type 2 DM in Malayalam speaking subjects of Dravidian ethnicity.

Materials And Methods: This case control study consisted of 51 chronic periodontitis with type 2 diabetes mellitus (CHPDM) and 51 CHP patients as cases and 51 healthy subjects as controls.

Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with oral lichen planus in Malayalam-speaking ethnicity from South India (Kerala).

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous condition that affects the oral mucous membrane as well as skin. It is a chronic cell-mediated autoimmune condition where the T-cell-mediated immune response plays an important part in the pathogenesis by causing damage to basal keratinocytes in oral mucosa. Cytokine gene polymorphisms have an unquestionable role in the orchestration of the immune response, leading to different functional scenarios, which in turn influence the outcome of the disease establishment and evolution.

Association of single nucleotide gene polymorphism at interleukin-1beta +3954, -511, and -31 in chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis in Dravidian ethnicity.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-1beta gene polymorphisms are considered a potential risk factor for periodontal disease. The aim of this study is to identify the association of IL-1beta gene polymorphisms with chronic periodontitis and aggressive periodontitis in a Malayalam-speaking Dravidian population from South India.

Methods: The case-control study consisted of 43 patients with chronic periodontitis and 54 patients with aggressive periodontitis as cases, and the control group consisted of 101 healthy subjects.

Association of dopamine receptor polymorphisms with schizophrenia and antipsychotic response in a South Indian population.

Background: Alterations in the dopamine transmission and receptor density are hypothesized in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia but ethnic disparities are reported to exist in disease association and therapeutic response to psychotropic medication. Antipsychotics have higher binding affinity to D2 subtype of dopamine receptor. DRD2 Cys311, TaqIB1 and TaqIA1 variants are considered to have either reduced affinity for dopamine and hypo-dopaminergic activity.