CORRELATION OF A POLYMORPHISM IN THE INTERLEUKIN-1 RECEPTOR ANTAGONIST GENE WITH HEPATIC-FIBROSIS IN JAPANESE ALCOHOLICS

The aim of this study was to determine whether there is any associatio n between interleukin-l receptor antagonist (IL1-Ra) genotype and alco holic liver disease. The IL1-Ra genotype was assessed in 102 Japanese male alcoholic liver disease patients and 46 healthy subjects by polym erase chain reaction with leukocyte DNA, The distribution of IL1-Ra ge notype and the allelic frequencies in Japanese healthy subjects are bo th significantly different from that previously reported in Caucasians (A1/A1 genotype: 95.7% in Japanese vs. 54.0% in Caucasians, p < 0.001 ; A1 allele: 97.8% vs. 73.4%, p < 0.001). The frequency of Al heterozy gotes tended to be higher in Japanese alcoholics with fibrosis, compar ed with those without fibrosis (14.9% vs. 2.9%), Furthermore, within t he fibrotic groups, cumulative alcohol intake was significantly lower in Al heterozygotes than in the Al homozygotes (877 +/- 118 kg vs. 136 9 +/- 90 kg, p < 0.05), In conclusion, a genetic polymorphism in the I L1-Ra gene may influence the risk of developing hepatic fibrosis in Ja panese alcoholics. The same study should be conducted in Caucasian pat ients having more frequency of IL1-Ra A1 heterozygotes.