Association between T Cell Immunoglobulin and Mucin Domain-1 Gene Polymorphisms with Allergic Rhinitis

Background and purpose: Allergic rhinitis is one symptomatic nasal disorders induced after contact with allergen in atopic individuals. It leads to IgE-mediated inflammation of the membranes lining the nose. In addition to environmental factors, genetic predispositions play an important part in susceptibility to this disease. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM-1) gene polymorphisms with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis. Materials and methods: In this case-control study, 155 allergic rhinitis patients and 163 healthy volunteers as controls were enrolled. The extraction of genomic DNA from peripheral blood was done through salting out and genotype was accomplished using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. To analyze the association between genotypes and alleles with the disease in the case group in comparison with the control group, X 2 and two-way logistic regression tests were used. Results: The findings indicated that C allele of G416C and A allele of G1454A polymorphisms in TIM-1 gene were associated with susceptibility to allergic rhinitis. In other words, A and G alleles in these positions increased the risk of the disease up to 1.55 (P=0.041) and 1.64 (P=0.006) in the patients compared with controls, respectively. In addition, the total serum IgE and peripheral blood eosinophil levels in the individuals with homozygous genotype of -416 CC were significantly higher regarding other investigated polymorphisms (P<0.05). Conclusion: According to the results of this study, it seems that the TIM-1 gene polymorphisms in C allele -416 and A allele in -1454 is associated with the susceptibility of allergic rhinitis and -416 CC genotype influences its pathogenesis.