Interferon-Gamma Gene Polymorphism +874 (A/T) in Chinese Children with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of interferon-gamma (ifn-γ) gene polymorphism +874 (a/t) (rs2430561) in the susceptibility and renal complications of patients with henoch-schonlein purpura (hsp). we also studied the effects of ifn-γ allelic variation on serum levels of pro-and anti-inflammatory cytokines in hsp patients. the study population comprised 97 patients suffering from hsp and 97 control participants. patients and controls were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism +874 (a/t) in the first intron of the ifn-γ gene by the taqman pcr method. frequencies of individuals with ifn-γ +874 aa, at and tt genotypes were 77.3%, 21.6% and 1% in hsp patients and 79.4%, 17.5% and 3.1% in controls, respectively. the frequency of the aa genotype in hsp patients with nephritis was slightly higher (83.3%) than in hsp patients without nephritis (73.8%). the allele a occurred more commonly in hsp patients with nephritis (92%) than in hsp patients without nephritis (86%), but these differences were not statistically significant (p= 0.469 and p= 0.244, respectively). in addition, significant difference in serum il-10 levels between ifn-γ +874 different genotype groups was found. our results do not support a role for ifn-γ gene polymorphism +874 (a/t) in the susceptibility to hsp and allelic variation at ifn-γ +874 locus had no effect on serum levels of cytokines in patients with hsp except for il-10.