TNFalpha, IFNgamma and IL-10 gene polymorphisms in a sample of Sicilian patients with coeliac disease.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease is associated with DQ2 and DQ8 alleles, but other genes also confer an additional genetic risk. AIMS: Defining whether the genetic profiles of interleukin-10, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma are associated with an increased coeliac disease risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The functionally gene polymorphisms of tumour necrosis factor alpha (-308G/A), interferon gamma (+874T/A) and interleukin-10 (-1082G/A) were typed using sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction in 110 Sicilian coeliac disease patients and in 220 Sicilian healthy controls. RESULTS: No differences in genotype frequencies of interleukin-10 polymorphisms were found between coeliac disease patients and healthy controls. A significant increase of -308A (p<0.033; OR 1.72; CI 1.27-2.33) and of +874T (p 0.0045; OR 3.02; CI 1.47-6.21) allele frequencies, both in hetero- and homozygosis, was observed in coeliac patients in comparison with healthy controls. In addition, simultaneous significant higher percentages of -308A and +874T alleles (p 0.0066; OR 2.33; CI 1.42-3.82) as well as simultaneous significant lower percentages of -308A and +874T alleles (p 0.003; OR 0.23; CI 0.10-0.60) were observed in coeliac patients compared with healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Genetically determined higher frequencies of -308A tumour necrosis factor alpha and +874T interferon gamma alleles, both in hetero and in homozygosis and mostly whether simultaneous, may play a role in predisposing to gluten intolerance. Subjects positive for -308A tumour necrosis factor alpha and +874T interferon gamma alleles have an increased risk for coeliac disease.