Introduction. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disease, often co-existing with other atopic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis or conjunctivitis. Among multiple aetiopathogenic factors, genetic background including polymorphisms and mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in proper epidermal function and immune response are widely examined. Th-2 derived cytokines including IL-4 and IL-10 are believed to play a key role in AD pathogenesis.
Objective. The aim of the study was to assess –590 C/T for IL-4 and –1082 G/A for IL-10 polymorphisms in the promoter region.
Material and methods. The material included 163 AD patients and 204 healthy controls, living in central Poland. AD diagnosis was based on Hanifin and Rajka criteria. Intensity of AD was assessed according to Rajka and Langeland’s scale. Polymorphisms in IL-4 and IL-10 pro­moter regions were assessed by RFLP-PCR.
Results. No significant differences in genotype distribution of all examined polymorphisms between AD patients and controls were found. No significant association between examined IL-4 and IL-10 polymorphisms and severity of AD or early asthma onset was revealed (p > 0.05 for all comparisons).
Conclusions. The lack of a positive correlation between AD and analysed polymorphisms in Polish AD patients may indicate a distinct genetic background and high variety of genetic factors involved in AD pathogenesis.