Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with hyperresponsiveness of lymphocytes to allergens. In acute AD only T(H)2-type lymphocytes are activated, whereas in more chronic forms of AD, the activity of both T(H)1- and T(H)2-type lymphocytes increases. IL-10 and transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)) are immunosuppressive cytokines that inhibit the activity of both T(H) cell types in human subjects.
Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether children with moderately severe chronic AD had IL10 or TGFB1 genotypes known to be associated with low cytokine production.
Methods: Using amplification refractory mutation screening PCR, we examined TGFB1 and IL10 gene polymorphisms, which are known to affect cytokine production, in 68 children with moderately severe AD and in 50 nonatopic children.
Results: The odds ratio of children with AD having a low TGFB1 producer genotype was 4.8 (95% CI, 2.4--9.7) compared with the control subjects (P <.0001). There were no differences in the frequency of IL10 gene polymorphisms between groups.
Conclusion: TGFB1 genotype may partly explain the strong genetic predisposition to AD.