Association between IL-27p28 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to allergic rhinitis

Background Interleukin-27 (IL-27) is a cytokine composed of two subunits, EBI3 and p28, which is an important mediator in regulating the differentiation of TCD4 + cells and plays an important role in immune-related disorders. This study aimed to elucidate the potential association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL-27p28 gene with serum IL-27 levels and the risk of allergic rhinitis (AR). Materials and methods The study included 130 patients with AR and 130 healthy individuals. To evaluate the association between IL-27p28 gene SNPs (rs153109 and rs181206) and the risk of AR, the Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method was used. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was also used to determine the serum level of IL-27 in patients with AR and healthy individuals. Results Our results did not show a significant relationship between IL-27p28 gene polymorphisms (rs153109 and rs181206) with the risk of AR and serum IL-27 levels. However, our results indicated that the serum level of IL-27 in patients with AR (342 ± 299 pg/mL) was significantly lower than the healthy controls (455 ± 274 pg/mL) (p = 0.02). Conclusion Our findings suggested that IL-27p28 SNPs (rs181206 and rs153109) are not associated with susceptibility to AR, but decreased serum IL-27 levels may be associated with the development of AR.