Monocyte chemoattractant protein–1 −2518 A/G single nucleotide polymorphism in Chinese Han patients with ocular Behçet's disease

Recent studies in Caucasian uveitis patients have shown an association with the −2518 A/G polymorphism of the monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)–1 gene. It is unknown whether this polymorphism is also associated with ocular Behçet's disease (BD) in Chinese populations. The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the possible involvement of MCP-1 in the susceptibility to ocular BD in Chinese Han individuals. A case control association study was performed in 296 ocular BD patients and 319 geographically and age-matched healthy controls using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed a decreased frequency of the homozygous AA genotype and an increased frequency of AG genotype of the MCP-1 −2518 polymorphism in ocular BD patients compared with healthy controls, when adjusted for gender (p = 0.048, p = 0.028, respectively). However, when segregated on the basis of several clinical findings, no any association was found between this polymorphism and ocular BD. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the MCP-1 −2518 AA genotype seems to display a protective association with ocular BD, whereas the −2518 AG genotype might be a susceptible factor for ocular BD in the Chinese Han population.