Association between a TGFβ1 promoter polymorphism and the phenotype of aspirin-intolerant chronic urticaria in a Korean population

Abstract

Chronic urticaria/angioedema is a common phenotype in patients with aspirin sensitivity; however, its genetic mechanism is not understood. Transforming growth factor (TGF)beta1 is a key regulatory cytokine involved in allergic inflammation. We examined the association of a TGFbeta1 genetic polymorphism with aspirin-intolerant chronic urticaria (AICU) and aspirin-tolerant chronic urticaria (ATCU) in a Korean population. A promoter polymorphism in the TGFbeta1 gene, TGFbeta1 -509C>T, was analysed in 112 AICU patients, 153 ATCU patients and 457 normal controls (NC), and the frequency was compared among the groups. Serum TGFbeta1 levels were measured by ELISA. The minor allele frequency of the -509C>T polymorphism was significantly higher in patients with AICU compared with the other two groups (P < 0.02 for AICU vs. NC; P < 0.05 for AICU vs. ATCU). Among the AICU patients, those with the T allele tended to have lower serum TGFbeta1 levels. These findings suggest that the -509C>T polymorphism in the TGFbeta1 promoter may contribute to the development of the AICU phenotype.