[Current research on cytokine gene single nucleotide polymorphisms of Behcet's syndrome]

Behcet's syndrome (BS) is characterized by systemic vasculitis with unknown etiology. There is evidence that more than one mechanism underlies the pathogenesis of BS, involving genetic factors and environmental stimuli. Although human leucocyte antigen-B51 is by far the most strongly associated genetic factor to BS, it accounts for less than 20% of the genetic risk, which indicates that other genetic factors remain to be discovered. Cytokines are signal molecules of the immune system which modulate the inflammatory process of nearly all immune response. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of cytokine gene have been associated with BS in many studies, involving T helper cell 1-type cytokines, interleukin 1 cytokine, interleukin 17 and chemotactic cytokine. The impact of different SNPs on BS varies, most of which affect the risk of disease, while the remaining affect the phenotype, the cumulative effect of these minor genes (SNPs) might be the genetic mechanisms of BS pathogenesis. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2020, 56: 876-880).