Survey of the association of deoxyribonuclease I polymorphism with disease

The deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) system was studied in 120 unrelated Japanese patients with liver disease, malignant neoplasms, alimentary-canal disease and inflammatory conditions with respect to the distribution of phenotypes and gene frequencies in serum samples. In patients with alimentary-canal disease a significant deficit of the DNase I phenotype 1-2 was demonstrated, which suggests that heterozygosity may confer protection against such disease. Furthermore, a significant association between the DNase I phenotype 2 and liver disease was found. The possible involvement of these phenotypes in the response to these diseases would appear to merit further study.