IL 10.G microsatellites mark promoter haplotypes associated with protection against the development of reactive arthritis in Finnish patients.

Objective To investigate the association of microsatellites and single-nucleotide promoter polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene for the cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) with susceptibility to and outcome of reactive arthritis (ReA). Methods From genomic DNA, IL-10 microsatellites G and R and IL-10 promoter polymorphisms at positions −1087 and −524 were typed by polymerase chain reaction, automated fragment length analysis, and restriction fragment digestion in 85 Finnish patients with ReA and 62 HLA–B27–positive Finnish controls. ReA patients had been followed up for 20 years. Genotypes and haplotypes of IL-10 were correlated with distinct features of the disease course, such as triggering agent…