Title:Association of Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms (IL6, IL10, TNF-α, TGF-β and IFN-γ) and Graves’ Disease in Turkish Population
Volume: 13
Issue: 2
Author(s): Faruk Kutluturk, Sema Yarman, Fatma Oguz Sarvan and Cigdem Kekik
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Cytokine, graves’ disease, interferon, interleukin, polymorphism, transforming growth factor, tumour necrosis
factor.
Abstract: Introduction: Cytokines play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune thyroid disease, and recent
studies have demonstrated an association between cytokine gene polymorphisms and Graves’ Disease (GD) in different
ethnic groups. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, tumor
necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), and interferon-gamma (INF-γ) gene
polymorphisms in the development of GD in Turkish population.
Material and Methods: A total of 224 subjects were included in the study comprising of 100 patients with GD (70 female,
30 male; mean age, 43.9 ±13.8 years) and 124 healthy subjects (81 female, 43 male); mean age, 37.8 ±10.2 years) without
antithyroid autoantibodies or family history of autoimmune disorders. Genotyping was conducted by using PCR and
sequence-specific primers.
Results: Statistical analysis showed a significant association between high TNF-α -308GA and IL-6 -174CC gene
polymorphisms in patients with GD compared to control subjects (p=0.016, p=0.044, respectively). However, no
significant differences were observed between GD and control subjects for IL-10, TGF-β, and INF-γ gene polymorphisms.
Conclusion: TNF-α-308GA and IL-6 -174CC gene polymorphisms are involved in susceptibility to GD in Turkish
population. The polymorphism hypothesis in pro-inflammatory cytokines might be involved in predisposition to GD.
