Abstract
Purpose: :
In animal models for bacterial corneal ulcers, high IL-10 levels were associated with a better clinical outcome. We investigated whether IL-10 promotor polymorphisms, known to influence IL-10 expression in vitro, were associated with susceptibility to and/or clinical outcome of bacterial corneal ulcers.
Methods: :
IL-10 promotor polymorphisms C-819T, G-1082A, A-2763C, and A-2849G were determined in 83 patients with bacterial corneal ulcers and 115 healthy controls by restriction fragment length PCR analysis. For 63 patients and all healthy controls IL-10 haplotypes could be inferred using the program SNPHAP.
Results: :
A significant underrepresentation of the A-2849A genotype was observed in the patient group compared to healthy controls. Both the -2763A allele and the IL-10.1 haplotype were associated with a poor clinical outcome. While the IL-10.2 haplotype was associated with a better clinical course.
Conclusions: :
IL-10 promotor polymorphisms that are associated with low IL-10 levels seem to protect against a bacterial corneal ulcer. Once a corneal ulcer has developed, IL-10 polymorphisms/haplotypes associated with a high IL-10 expression display a favorable outcome of bacterial corneal ulcers.
Keywords: keratitis • genetics