520 Involvement of Il-10 Gene Promoter Polymorphisms in the Susceptibility for Childhood Asthma

BACKGROUND: Asthma and atopy have a complex background which may result from the interaction of genes and environments. Interleukin (IL)-10 is known to play various roles in immune-regulating and anti-inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible effect of the IL-10 promoter polymorphisms on susceptibility to childhood asthma. METHODS: We recruited 333 patients with atopic asthma, 55 with non-atopic asthma, and 248 normal controls. We performed a genetic association study of 3 genetic polymorphisms (IL-10–1082A>G, IL-10 –819T>C, –592A>C) of the IL-10 promoter. RESULTS: There was no difference between atopic asthma, non-atopic asthma and normal controls in allele, genotype or haplotype frequencies of these IL-10 polymorphisms. However, the –1082A>G polymorphism and ATA haplotype in the IL-10 promoter gene were associated with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and the –819T>C, –592A>C, and ATA and ACC haplotypes were also shown to be related with serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the polymorphisms within the IL-10 promoter may have a disease-modifying effect in asthmatic airway.