Association of IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms with food allergy susceptibility and serum IL-10 level in a pediatric Caucasian population.

Background: Interleukin 10 has been shown to play a critical role in the regulation of the immune responses in allergic diseases.

Aim: To investigate if genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene are associated with food allergy (FA) susceptibility in Caucasian pediatric patients with concomitant allergic diseases and IL-10 levels.

Methods: The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at -1082A > G (rs1800896), -819 T > C (rs1800871), and -592A > C (rs1800872) of 62 pediatric patients with IgE-mediated FA were analyzed and correlated with clinical parameters, serum IgE and IL-10 levels. The results were compared with those of 92 healthy controls without FA, personal and/or family history of atopy.

Results: Analysis and comparison of genotype distributions, allele frequencies, and haplotypes showed that none of the genotypes confers an increased risk of FA. The genotype -1082 AA in FA patients was associated with moderate to severe symptoms of FA, the development of atopic asthma, and higher levels of IL-10. In a linear regression study, we confirmed that the genotype -1082 AA acts as an independent factor for the higher levels of IL-10. A positive association was also observed between -819T/C and -592 A/C SNPs and later onset of FA.

Conclusion: Polymorphisms in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene are not associated with FA susceptibility in our cohort. In FA patients, -1082 A/G SNPs seem to influence the production of IL-10, the severity of FA symptoms, and the development of atopic asthma in this population.