Analysis of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) gene polymorphisms in Turkish patients with scleroderma

Abstract

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs Fibrosis associated with SSc is characterized by an increased synthesis of a wide range of extracellular matrix (ECM) TGF-beta is a pluripotent cytokine in a wide range of cell types In particular it has been found to be a potent inducer of ECM protein synthesis and fibroblast migration The TGF-beta 1 gene is highly polymorphic and two signal sequence polymorphisms at codon 10 and codon 25 are linked to disease outcomes In this study. we analysed two polymorphic sites of the TGF-beta 1 gene. codon 10 and codon 25, in 43 Turkish SSc female patients with interstitial lung involvement and in 75 healty individuals by ARMS-PCR In our study no significant difference was found in codon 10, codon 25 genotype frequencies between patient with SSc and the control group (p = 0 676, 0 375. respectively) Our findings suggest that codon 10 and 25 polymorphism cannot be related with SSc for Turkish population Copyright (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons. Ltd