TNF alpha, IFN gamma and IL-10 gene polymorphisms in a sample of Sicilian patients with coeliac disease

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: 1.47-6.2 1) allele frequencies, both in hereto- 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 cocliac disease. (c) 2005 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.