IL-7R gene polymorphisms among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A case-control study

Novel approaches to develop biomarkers predicting treatment responses to TNF-blockers

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs) cause significant morbidity and are a considerable burden for the patients in terms of pain, impaired function, and diminished quality of life. Important progress in CID treatment has been obtained with biological therapies, such as tumor-necrosis-factor blockers. However, more than a third of the patients fail to respond to these inhibitors and are exposed to the side effects of treatment, without the benefits. Therefore, there is a strong interest in developing tools to predict response of patients to biologics. Areas covered: The authors searched PubMed for recent studies on biomarkers for disease assessment and prediction of therapeutic responses, focusing on the effect of TNF blockers on immune responses in spondyloarthritis (SpA), and other CID, in particular rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Conclusions will be drawn about the possible development of predictive biomarkers for response to treatment. Expert opinion: No validated biomarker is currently available to predict treatment response in CID. New insight could be generated through the development of new bioinformatic modeling approaches to combine multidimensional biomarkers that explain the different genetic, immunological and environmental determinants of therapeutic responses.

A significant association between CXCL10 -1447 A > G and IL18 -607 C > A gene polymorphism with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM-TSP), a case-control report from city of Mashhad, Iran

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the first isolated retrovirus from humans, and 2-3% of infected individuals suffer from HTLV-1 associated myelopathy tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM-TSP). Previous studies indicated that the risk of HAM-TSP could be correlated with the individuals' genetic alterations. Mashhad is one of the areas infected with HTLV-1 in Iran. This study designed to examine the association between several important gene polymorphisms and HAM-TSP. Genotypes of 232 samples from controls, HTLV-1 carriers, and HAM-TSP patients were examined for FAS-670 (A > G), CXCL10-1447 (A > G), Foxp3-3279 (C > A), IL-18 -137 (C > G), and IL-18 -607 (C > A) gene polymorphisms by different polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. A non-significant association was observed between FAS-670 A > G, Foxp3-3279 C > A, and IL-18 -137 C > G gene polymorphisms and HAM-TSP. Nevertheless, a significant (P < 0.001) association between CXCL10-1447 A > G and IL-18 -607 C > A gene polymorphisms with HAM-TSP was observed in our study population. As previous studies revealed that the CXCL10 level in the cerebrospinal fluid of HAM-TSP patients was associated with the disease progression, and as we noticed, a direct association was observed between CXCL10-1447 A > G polymorphism and HAM-TSP. These polymorphisms might be recommended as a valuable prediction criterion for the severity of the disease. The contradiction between our findings and other studies regarding IL-18 -607 C > A gene polymorphism might be associated with various factors such as genotypes frequency in diverse races and population heterogeneity in the city of Mashhad.

Assessment of interleukin 6 gene polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is complex autoimmune system disease and significant impact on the health of population in our world. Numerous studies confirmed that genetic factors play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of RA. In this current study, we aimed to investigate IL-6 polymorphisms and RA risk in Chinese Han population.

METHODS

508 RA patients and 494 age- and gender- matched healthy controls were recruited, all subjects were genotyped with an Agena MassARRAY platform. Subsequently, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression after adjusting for age and gender.

RESULTS

Our results suggested that IL-6 rs2243289 allele and genotype frequencies were associated with reduced RA risk under all genetic models (all p < 0.05). Stratification analysis revealed that IL-6 rs2243289 polymorphism was significant associated with decreased the risk of RA in the old groups (age > 54) (all p < 0.05). However, IL-6 rs2069837 and rs1800796 polymorphisms were associated with increased risk of RA among the young groups (age ≤ 54) (all p < 0.05). In addition, subgroup analysis by gender suggested that IL-6 rs2069837 and rs1800796 polymorphism were interacted with increased the risk of RA in males (all p < 0.05). Besides, IL-6 rs2243289 was associated with reduced RA risk in females.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, our results demonstrated the correlation between IL and 6 polymorphisms and RA susceptibility and confirmed for the first time that the relationship was restricted to age and gender in Chinese Han population.

Modulation of Signaling Mediated by TSLP and IL-7 in Inflammation, Autoimmune Diseases, and Cancer

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) and Interleukin-7 (IL-7) are widely studied cytokines within distinct branches of immunology. On one hand, TSLP is crucially important for mediating type 2 immunity at barrier surfaces and has been linked to widespread allergic and inflammatory diseases of the airways, skin, and gut. On the other hand, IL-7 operates at the foundations of T-cell and innate lymphoid cell (ILC) development and homeostasis and has been associated with cancer. Yet, TSLP and IL-7 are united by key commonalities in their structure and the structural basis of the receptor assemblies they mediate to initiate cellular signaling, in particular their cross-utilization of IL-7Rα. As therapeutic targeting of TSLP and IL-7 via diverse approaches is reaching advanced stages and in light of the plethora of mechanistic and structural data on receptor signaling mediated by the two cytokines, the time is ripe to provide integrated views of such knowledge. Here, we first discuss the major pathophysiological roles of TSLP and IL-7 in autoimmune diseases, inflammation and cancer. Subsequently, we curate structural and mechanistic knowledge about receptor assemblies mediated by the two cytokines. Finally, we review therapeutic avenues targeting TSLP and IL-7 signaling. We envision that such integrated view of the mechanism, structure, and modulation of signaling assemblies mediated by TSLP and IL-7 will enhance and fine-tune the development of more effective and selective approaches to further interrogate the role of TSLP and IL-7 in physiology and disease.

Contribution of IL-7/7R genetic polymorphisms in coronary heart disease in Chinese Han population

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease. Interleukin (IL)-7/IL-7R has been reported to be involved in the development of CHD. However, the relationship between IL-7/7R genetic polymorphisms and CHD among the Han Chinese population remains unclear.

METHODS

To examine whether IL-7/7R variants contributed to CHD, six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped by using the Agena MassARRAY platform in 499 CHD patients and 496 controls. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The linkage disequilibrium was analyzed using Haploview software. The association between clinical parameters and IL-7/7R polymorphisms was determined by a one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS

IL-7R rs969129 G (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 1.00-1.43, p = 0.047) allele and GG (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.01-2.08, p = 0.044) genotype carriers had a higher risk for CHD. IL-7R haplotype "ACAG" (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.09-1.87, p = 0.010) conferred an increased CHD risk. Rs969129, rs6451231, and rs117173992 were related to CHD susceptibility in males and/or the subgroup of individuals aged >61 years. IL-7R rs969129, rs10053847, rs6451231, and rs118137916 variants were associated with diabetes in patients with CHD. Moreover, rs969129, rs6451231, and rs117173992 were associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations, whereas rs118137916 and rs10053847 were associated with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

IL-7/7R variants were related to the genetic predisposition of CHD in the Chinese Han population. These findings increase our knowledge regarding the effect of IL-7/7R on CHD.

IL-7R gene polymorphisms among patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A case-control study

Background

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory disease which refers to bony erosions and joint destruction largely caused by genetic factors. Our study aimed to explore whether interleukin‐7 receptor (IL‐7R) gene polymorphisms influenced RA risk in the Han Chinese population.

Methods

Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL‐7R gene were successfully genotyped using Agena MassARRAY platform. The associations between IL‐7R polymorphisms and RA were evaluated by the Chi‐squared test, T test, genetic model analysis, and haplotype analysis. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Rs969129 and rs6451231 in the IL‐7R gene were associated with an increased risk of RA in the allele model (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.05–1.49, p = 0.013; OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.03–1.48, p = 0.023), respectively. In the genetic models, rs969129 and rs6451231 were associated with an increased risk of RA. After stratification analysis by age, rs969129 and rs6451231 were associated with an increased risk of RA in patients (age <54). After stratification analysis by gender, rs6451231 was associated with an increased risk of RA in males, while rs969129 was found to be associated with an elevated risk of RA in females. And there was a strong linkage disequilibrium among the four SNPs (rs969129, rs118137916, rs10053847, and rs6451231).

Conclusion

These results suggested rs969129 and rs6451231 in the IL‐7R gene were associated with an increased risk of RA in the Han Chinese population.