Lack of Association Between TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-10 Gene Polymorphisms and Rheumatic Heart Disease in South Indian Population

Abstract

Background: Proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of immune mediated inflammatory diseases including rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Polymorphisms in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and interleukin (IL)-10 genes influence the differential cytokine expression as well as the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the association between TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 gene polymorphisms and RHD in South Indian population. Materials and Methods: TNF-α (–308, –238), IFN-γ (+874), and IL-10 (–1082, –819, –592) gene polymorphisms were determined in 100 patients with RHD and 127 healthy siblings by PCR. Results: There was no significant difference in the genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 polymorphisms between RHD patients and healthy siblings. Conclusion: The present study suggests that TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-10 gene variants may not be associated with the development of RHD in South Indian population.

Keywords:

• RHD
• TNF-α
• IFN-γ
• IL-10
• polymorphism

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.