STUDYING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN POLYMORPHISMS - 2518A/G MCP-1 GENE WITH BEHCET’S DISEASE IN THE POPULATION OF THE NORTH WEST OF IRAN

Behcet’s disease (BD) is an inflammatory vasculitis of unclear etiology. MCP-1
gene is a member of the C-C chemokines family that is a chemotactic factor for monocytes. The results
obtained have shown that the -2518A/G polymorphism of MCP-1 gene is associated with BD. The aim
of this study was to evaluate the possible involvement of this polymorphism and Behcet’s disease in the
population of the North West of Iran.
Materials & Methods: A case-control association study was performed on 72 BD patients and 78
geographically healthy controls using PCR-RFLP. The results were analyzed with chi-square and Fisher
exact test.
Results: Statistical analysis did not show a significant relationship between this polymorphism and BD.
But when gender association analysis was adjusted for gender, the results showed that the frequency of
AA genotype in female patients and controls was respectively 16 (66.67%) and 14 (43.75%) with p=0.00
and the frequency of GG genotype in female patients and controls was respectively 0 (0%) and 6
(18.75%) with p=0.00. A allele frequency was 40 (83.33%) in female patients and 40 (62.5%) in female
control with p=0.00 and G allele frequency was 8(16.67%) in female patients and 24 (37.5%) in female
controls with p=0.00.
Conclusion: The present study did not show any significant correlation between polymorphisms -
2518A/G MCP-1 gene and Behçet disease in the population of the North West of Iran. However, there
was a significant association between this polymorphism and women with Behcet's disease by
performing gender-related analysis. High frequency of AA genotypes and low frequency of GG
genotype in female patients compared to females control suggest a very strong association between the
genotypes of this polymorphism with BD in female population of the North West of Iran. A allele seems
to display a protective association, whereas G allele might be a susceptible factor for females suffering
BD in North West of Iran.