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Specific IgA, IgG, and IgE antibodies to food antigens in 35 participants with autistic disorder and 21 of their siblings in the Republic of Macedonia were examined. Statistically significant higher plasma concentration of IgA antibodies against alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, casein, and gliadin were found in the children with autistic disorder. Plasma concentrations of IgG antibodies against alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, and casein in participants with autistic disorder were significantly higher. IgE-specific antibodies (alpha-lactalbumin, beta-lactoglobulin, casein, and gluten), as well as plasma concentration of total IgE, also were statistically significantly higher in the participants with autistic disorder. Gender differences were found for select IgA, IgG, and IgE (but not for total IgE) food-specific antibodies (kU/L) in the participants with autistic disorder and their siblings. (Contains 6 tables.)

To examine the possible role of 22 cytokine gene polymorphisms in host susceptibility to or protection against RA in Macedonians. In this study, 301 healthy unrelated individuals and 85 patients with RA were studied. Cytokine genotyping was performed by PCR with sequence-specific priming (PCR–SSP) (Heidelberg kit). Results showed susceptible association for four cytokine alleles, six cytokine genotypes, one haplotype, and four combinations of haplotypes, while protective associations were found for four cytokine alleles, three cytokine genotypes, three haplotypes, and only one combination of haplotypes. These results suggest that IL-4 −1098, IL-4 −590, IL-10 −1082, IL-10 −819, IL-2 −330, IL-6 −174, and TNF-α −238 cytokine gene polymorphisms might be significantly associated and affect host susceptibility and/or resistance to RA in Macedonians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To genotype cytokine polymorphisms in the Macedonian population as a part of the international project Cytokine Polymorphism Component (CPC). Methods The sample consisted of 125 healthy unrelated individuals, 46 men and 79 women, aged 20-35 years. All individuals were of Macedonian origin and nationality, Christian Orthodox religion, and residents of different regions of the Republic of Macedonia. Blood samples were collected after written consent was obtained, DNA was isolated from peripheral blood leukocytes by the phenolchloroform extraction method, and the samples were stored in the Anthropology section of the Macedonian Human DNA Bank (hDNAMKD). Fourteen cytokine genes were identified as candidates: gamma-interferon (IFNγ); interleukin (IL)1 alpha (IL-1α); IL-1 beta (IL-1β); IL-1 receptor (IL-1R); IL-1R antagonist (IL-1RA); IL-2; IL-4; IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα); IL-6; IL-10; IL-12B; TGF beta 1 (TGF-1β); and TNF alpha (TNF-α). Cytokine genotyping for the anthropology samples was performed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP) (Heidelberg kit). The population genetics analysis package, PyPop, was used for the analysis of the cytokine data for this report. Results The frequency of alleles for some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) varied from 0.967 for TGF-β1 cdn25/G and 0.920 for TNF-α-238/G, to 0.914 for IL-1α-889/C, indicating common "wild type" allele in those cytokines. For the most SNPs, the test of neutrality showed negative value for Fnd statistic, which indicated balancing selection operating on the alleles at that locus. Fnd was negative and significantly different from 0 for IFNγ UTR5644 and TGF-β1 cdn10 (P=0.006 and P= 0.007, respectively). Most of SNPs showed a good fit with HWP expectations. A few SNPs (IL-1α-889, IL-1β-511, IL-1β+3962, and IFNγ UTR5644) were not in HWP (P≤0.005), and Guo and Thompson Hardy Weinberg Output (GTHWO) was significant (P≤0.005). The most frequent haplotypes for TGF-β1 wereTG (0.491) and CG (0.476), with the absence of TGF-β1/TC haplotype in the sample from the Macedonian population. Test of neutrality showed negative value for F nd statistic (Ewens-Watterson test of neutrality) which indicated balancing selection operating on the haplotypes at that locus, except for the IL-4 haplotypes, where it showed a positive value for Fnd statistic,but without significance. Fnd was negative and significantly different from 0 for IL-10 haplotypes (P=0.002). In the sample from the Macedonian population, D' was equal to 1 in all haplotypes with P values < 0.0001, except for TNF-α (P≤0.012), which indicated that one or more haplotypes were missing. Conclusion The analysis of cytokine alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes in the sample from the Macedonian population showed a good fit with Hardy Weinberg equilibrium for most of SNPs and can be used for anthropological comparisons, as well as for association studies with different diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]