Is there any association between mycosis fungoides and Th-1,Th-2 cytokines and transforming growth factor-beta 1 gene polymorphisms?

Abstract

Background and Design: Cytokines are considered to play a crucial role in the development of mycosis fungoides (MF). Cytokine production is under genetic control and allelic variations of cytokine genes are associated with lower or higher production of cytokines. The aim of this study was to determine any possible cytokine gene polymorphisms that may be a risk factor for the development or progression of MF.Materials and Methods: Genotyping of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)+874, interleukin (IL)-10-1082, IL-6-174, transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), codon 10 and codon 25, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-308 was undertaken in 55 Turkish patients with MF and compared to 50 healthy controls. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism was applied for IFN-gamma+874, IL-10-1082, IL6-174 and TNF-alpha-308 gene polymorphisms. TGF-beta 1 was genotyped by direct DNA sequencing of PCR amplified gene products for codon 10 and codon 25 polymorphisms.Results: Genotype distributions showed no significant difference between the patients and the controls for any of the five investigated cytokines. There was no significant difference between advanced stage and early stage cases and healthy controls.Conclusion: None of the studied cytokine gene polymorphisms are risk factors for the development or progression of MF in the Turkish population, however, further studies are needed.