Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin-1 family with atopic dermatitis

Abstract Background Interleukin-1 (IL-1) seems to have an important role in early reactions towards microbes, while its genetic variability could affect this role in atopic patients who have a distressed immunity towards dermatological infections. Methods Eighty-nine patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), who were referred to a main referral paediatric hospital, were enrolled in this study. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of the following IL-1 cluster genes were assessed in this group of patients: IL-1α −889, IL-1β −511, IL-1β +3962, IL-1R Pst-I 1970, and IL-1RA Mspa-I 11100. The results were compared with a group of 140 healthy subjects from the same region. Results Fourteen percent of the controls had TT homozygous genotype in IL-1R at position Pst-I 1970, while only 2% of the patients with AD had this genotype ( p  = 0.005, OR: 0.14, 95%CI: 0.02–0.64). The CC homozygous genotype was the most common genotype in IL-1α position −889 and IL-1β at position +3962 in both groups of patients with AD and the controls, while the TC heterozygous genotype was the most common genotype in IL-1β at position −511 and IL-1R at position Pst-I 1970, with no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions This study showed a significant negative association in the IL-1R Mspa-I 11100 TT homozygous genotype in the patients with AD.