Anti-IL1A monoclonal antibody, clone 475-4C4-25

Background: Cytokines play an important role in skin inflammation. Objectives: We determined whether polymorphisms in cytokine genes contribute to the occurrence of occupational chronic irritant contact dermatitis (CICD). Methods: In a case-control study, 9 polymorphisms in the genes coding for interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-8, IL-10, and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were determined in 197 patients with CICD. 217 apprentices in vocational training for high-risk occupations for CICD served as controls. Results: For all polymorphisms, no differences in genotype distributions were found between patients and controls. However, in patients with self-reported low levels of wet work and irritant exposure, more TNFA -308 variant genotypes (G/A and A/A) were present compared with those exposed to higher levels or controls, which indicates a TNFA-induced increase of susceptibility. In patients with TNFA -308 variant genotypes, the prevalence of flexural eczema was higher (48% and 57%) compared with that in patients presented with wild-type genotype (30%). Regarding IL1A -889, prevalence of symptoms of dermatitis was lower in apprentices with T/T or C/T genotype (32% and 36%) compared with wild-type genotype (54%, C/C). This indicates a protective effect of these variant alleles in acquiring hand dermatitis. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that some genetic variations alter susceptibility to (chronic) dermatitis. Knowledge of the impact of genetic differences on the risk of CICD is essential in predictive testing of individuals at risk.

Background Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) is a neglected tropical disease caused by infections due to Trypanosoma brucei subspecies. In addition to the well-established environmental and behavioural risks of becoming infected, there is evidence for a genetic component to the response to trypanosome infection. We undertook a candidate gene case-control study to investigate genetic associations further. Methodology We genotyped one polymorphism in each of seven genes (IL1A, IL1RN, IL4RN, IL6, HP, HPR, and HLA-G) in 73 cases and 250 controls collected from 19 ethno-linguistic subgroups stratified into three major ethno-linguistic groups, 2 pooled ethno-linguistic groups and 11 ethno-linguistic subgroups from three Cameroonian HAT foci. The seven polymorphic loci tested consisted of three SNPs, three variable numbers of tandem repeat (VNTR) and one INDEL. Results We found that the genotype (TT) and minor allele (T) of IL1A gene as well as the genotype 1A3A of IL1RN were associated with an increased risk of getting Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and develop HAT when all data were analysed together and also when stratified by the three major ethno-linguistic groups, 2 pooled ethno-linguistic subgroups and 11 ethno-linguistic subgroups. Conclusion This study revealed that one SNP rs1800794 of IL1A and one VNTR rs2234663 of IL1RN were associated with the increased risk to be infected by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and develop sleeping sickness in southern Cameroon. The minor allele T and the genotype TT of SNP rs1800794 in IL1A as well as the genotype 1A3A of IL1RN rs2234663 VNTR seem to increase the risk of getting Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infections and develop sleeping sickness in southern Cameroon.