Abstract

Genetic factors play a major role in the formation of allergic rhinitis. The most studied genes for the investigation of the genetic origin of allergic rhinitis are the cytokine genes. We aimed to analyse the relation between susceptibility to allergic rhinitis and IL-4 C-590T and C+33T polymorphisms. For this aim, serum IL-4 levels and IL-4 C-590T and C+33T polymorphisms of 211 allergic rhinitis cases and 232 healthy individuals (control group) were analysed. We found that the individuals carrying IL-4 +33T allele and IL-4 -590TT and +33TT genotypes were much more predisposed to allergic rhinitis than the individuals carrying CC wild type genotypes. Our results also suggest that serum IL-4 levels of control group carrying the IL-4 -590 CT and TT genotypes and T allele and IL-4 +33 CT and TT genotypes, and T allele were significantly higher than the CC genotypes and T alleles carriers. As a result, it is possible to say that IL-4 C-590T and C+33T polymorphisms may increase the susceptibility of allergic rhinitis because of their lowering of IL-4 levels in serum.

Key words: Allergic rhinitis, genetic susceptibility, interleukin-4, polymorphism