Cytokine gene polymorphisms relevant for the spondyloarthropathies

Results of sibling and twin studies suggest that a substantial proportion o f susceptibility to spondyloarthropathies arises from genes outside the hum an leukocyte antigen (HLA) region. There is increasing evidence that the pa ttern of cytokine secretion influences the course of spondyloarthropathies. A Th2 cytokine pattern (low tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-TNF-alpha low inte rferon [IFN]-gamma, and high interleukin [IL]-10) dominates in the joints o f reactive arthritis patients. For IL-10 and TNF-alpha a substantial propor tion of cytokine production is under genetic control and influenced by gene tic polymorphisms. Here we review the evidences for association of TNF-a an d IL-10 polymorphisms with spondyloarthropathies and their functional impli cations. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Inc.