High interleukin-4 expression and interleukin-4 gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to human paracoccidioidomycosis.

High interleukin-4 expression and interleukin-4 gene polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to human paracoccidioidomycosis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2015 Sep;110(6):781-5 Authors: Mendonça MS, Peraçolli TS, Silva-Vergara ML, Ribeiro SC, Oliveira RF, Mendes RP, Rodrigues V Abstract Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is caused by dimorphic fungi from theParacoccidioides brasiliensis complex. Previous studies have demonstrated that the severity of disease is associated with a T-helper 2 immune response characterised by high interleukin (IL)-4 production. In the present study we analysed two polymorphisms in the IL-4gene (-590 C/T and intron-3 microsatellite) in 76 patients with PCM and 73 control subjects from an endemic area. The production of IL-4 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after antigen or phytohaemagglutinin stimulation was determined by ELISA. A significant correlation was observed between the RP2/RP2 intron-3 genotype and infection with Paracoccidioides sp.(p = 0.011), whereas the RP1/RP1 genotype was correlated with resistance. No significant correlation was observed for the IL-4promoter polymorphism. Furthermore, the low IL-4 expression observed in the control group compared with patients was associated with the RP1/RP1 genotype. These results suggest that IL-4polymorphisms might be associated with the ability of the host to control Paracoccidioides sp.infection. The relevance of this polymorphism is supported by...
Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz Source Type: research