ASSOCIATION OF POLYMORPHISMS IN INTERLEUKIN-10 GENE PROMOTER WITH AUTOANTIBODIES PRODUCTION IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Background: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a major anti-inflammatory cytokine in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that plays a crucial role in the regulation of the immune system. Some effects of IL-10 are not anti-inflammatory, for example activation of B cells differentiation and proliferation. Allelic polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene promoter may contribute to the regulation of autoantibodies production. Objectives: To examine the association between both individuals IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms -3575T/A, -2849G/A, -2763C/A, -1082G/A, -819C/T, -592A/C and the production of autoantibodies and the radiographic progression of RA. Methods: A total of 144 patients with RA according to the ACR criteria were recruited into the study. Radiographic progression was scored according to the Sharp/van der Heijde method. The total Sharp score (TSS) and the annual radiographic progression rate (TSS/year) were calculated. Polymerase chain reaction amplification was used for analysis of the IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms. Serum levels of anti-CCP autoantibodies were measured by ELISA. Results: No significant differences in genotype distribution and/or allelic frequencies of the -3575T/A, -2849G/A, -2763C/A, -1082G/A, -819C/T, -592A/C promoter polymorphisms between RA patients in respect of radiographic progression were found. Significant differences in allelic frequencies of the - 3575T/A, - 819C/T and - 592A/C polymorphisms between anti-CCP positive/negative RA patients were found, with higher prevalence of A, C, C alleles respective within anti-CCP positive RA patients. The haplotype TGAATA was found to be less frequent in anti-CCP positive RA patients. Conclusion: Results obtained in this study provide the evidence of an association of the polymorphisms and their haplotype in IL-10 gene promoter with the production of anti-CCP autoantibodies in RA patients. The IL-10 promoter polymorphisms could be a potential markers of RA severity. Disclosure of Interest: None declaredCitation: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, volume 68, supplement 3, year 2009, page 184Session: Genomics, genetic basis of disease and HLA/T cell recognition (Poster Presentations )