Original Article

Journal of Investigative Dermatology (1994) 103, 387–390; doi:10.1111/1523-1747.ep12395398

Severity of Alopecia Areata Is Associated with a Polymorphism in the Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Gene

Joanna K Tarlow1, Frances E Clay1, Michael J Cork1, Alexandra I F Blakemore1, Andrew J G McDonagh2, Andrew G Messenger2 and Gordon W Duff1

  1. 1Section of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, U.K.
  2. 2Section of Dermatology, Department of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, U.K.

Received 7 January 1994; Accepted 9 May 1994.

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Abstract

One of the most potent pro-inflammatory mediators is the earlyacting cytokine interleukin-1. Its actions are regulated by a structurally related anti-inflammatory cytokine known as the interleukin- 1 receptor antagonist. We have previously characterized a DNA polymorphism in this gene (IL-1rn) and have found associations between allele 2 and several chronic inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we tested the frequency of allele 2 of the IL-1rn gene in 90 patients with alopecia areata compared with 261 healthy controls. There was a significant association between allele 2 of the polymorphism and the severity of alopecia areata. The frequency of allele 2 increased from 24.1% in the control population to 25.9% in patchy alopecia areata, 36.1% in alopecia totalis, and 47.2% in alopecia universalis (p = 0.005). This severity association is similar to that found in other epithelial-related diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, lichen sclerosus, and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Keywords:

genotype, severity factors, cytokines

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