Contribution of Interleukin 1β and KM Loci to Alopecia areata

Abstract
Alopecia areata is a common skin disease in which proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β may play a pathogenic role. In this study, we examined the distribution of genotypes of an IL-1β single base change polymorphism at position +3953 in patients with alopecia areata. The distribution of immunoglobulin κ light chain (KM) genotypes was similarly examined. The data obtained showed that the IL-1β and KM loci act cooperatively to significantly increase susceptibility to alopecia areata.