Polymorphisms of IL-13 and IL-4-IL-13-SNPs in patients with penicillins allergy

Objective: Although IL-4 and IL-13 share many biologic activities, IL-13manifests some unique activities. We genotype the IL-13 and IL-4-IL-13-SNPs genes for polymorphisms that could then be used to determine associations with IgE regulation as well as levels of IL-4 and IL-13. Methods: Eight kinds of specific IgE to penicillins were determined with radioallergosobent test (RAST) in the sera of 158 patients with penicillins allergy and 89 healthy subjects. Serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The IL-13Arg130Gln, IL-4-IL-13-SNP3 and IL-4-IL13-SNP4 genotyping were carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Results: Among patients with positive specific IgE, significant differences of IL-4-IL-13-SNP3 and IL-4-IL-13-SNP4 genotypes were observed between patients with positive BPA and control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Additionally, we also found significant difference in IL-4-IL-13-SNP4 genotype between positive and negative BPA-IgE patients (P < 0.05). However, we found no significant differences in the prevalence of these polymorphisms between any group studied (IR and NIR, shock and urticaria, etc.) and control group. The same was true between levels of IL-4 and IL-13, and any of genotypes. Conclusion: The data suggest that IL-4-IL-13- SNP genes between IL-4 and IL-13 play a role in the regulation of specific IgE levels in patients with penicillin allergies.