Multiplex genotyping of cytokine gene SNPs using fluorescence bead array

PLoS One. 2015 Feb 17;10(2):e0118008. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118008. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes that affect cytokine production and function are known to influence the susceptibility and progression of immune-related conditions such as infection, autoimmune diseases, transplantation, and cancer. We established a multiplex genotyping method to analyze the SNPs of cytokine genes by combining the multiplex PCR and bead array platform. Thirteen cytokine gene regions, including 20 SNPs, were amplified, and allele-specific primer extension was performed in a single tube. High-quality allele-specific primers were selected for signals greater than 1000 median fluorescence intensity (MFI) for positive alleles, and less than 500 MFI for negative alleles. To select and improve the extension primers, modifications for the reverse direction, length or refractory were performed. 24 primers in the forward or reverse direction step and 12 primers in length or refractory modifications were selected and showed high concordance with results by nucleotide sequencing. Among the 13 candidate cytokine genes, the SNPs of 12 cytokine genes, including IL-1α, IL-1R, IL-1RA, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-4Rα, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TGF-β1, and TNF-α, were successfully defined with the selected allele-specific primers in healthy Korean subjects. Our genotyping system provides a fast and accurate detection for SNPs of multiple cytokine genes to investigate their association with immune-related diseases and transplantation outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Cytokines / genetics*
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • Genotyping Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Microspheres*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Quality Control
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA Primers

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a grant of the Korean Health Technology R&D Project, Ministry for Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (HI09C1555). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.