Association between polymorphisms in cytokine genes IL-17A and IL-17F and development of allergic rhinitis and comorbid asthma in Chinese subjects

Background: Th17 cell lineage, a distinct pro-inflammatory lineage characterized by preferential synthesis of cytokines IL-17A and IL-17F, is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR). Objectives: Our aim was to investigate whether polymorphisms in and around IL-17A and IL-17F genes are associated with AR and comorbid asthma. Methods: A case-control comparison was performed in a cohort of 279 AR patients, 197 allergic rhinitis with asthma (AR-A) patients and 281 control Chinese subjects, to investigate associations between 19 tagging single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-17A and IL-17F gene regions and manifestation of AR or AR-A. Genotyping was performed using the Sequenom MassARRAY platform. Results: SNP rs3819024 in IL-17A gene, intergenic SNPs rs1892280 and rs10807439 were specifically associated with AR protective or risk effects, while rs3819024 in IL-17A gene, intergenic SNP rs13192563 in 1L-17F gene were associated with AR-A protective or risk effects. Haplotype analysis showed significant AR risk in haplotype AA (rs1892280G-rs13192563A) and AR protective effect in haplotype GT (rs7758579A-rs119667601); the haplotype AT(rs7758579-rs11966760) were considered AR-A risk. Conclusions: Our findings preliminarily indicate IL17A and IL17F SNPs, and some intergenic variants have the potential association with AR and comorbid asthma in Chinese population. (C) 2012 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.