OBJECTIVETo investigate two single nucleotide polymorphism sites of the promoter region in T cells immunoglobulin domain and mucin domain protein-3 (TIM-3) and detect their relationship with allergic asthma in a population of adult Hans from Hubei province of China.

METHODSThe polymorphisms were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and allelic specific polymerase chain reaction (ASPCR). The genotype and allele frequencies were calculated and analyzed.

RESULTSThe genotype frequencies of CC, CT and TT in -1541 C/T polymorphism were 0.961, 0.039 and 0 respectively in the healthy population and were 0.935, 0.065 and 0 respectively in the allergic asthma population. No significant difference in genotype and alleles frequencies was found between the allergic asthma patients and control subjects (P=0.314, P=0.321). The genotype frequencies of GG, GT and TT in -574 T/G polymorphism were 0.992, 0.008 and 0 respectively in the healthy population and were 0.941, 0.059 and 0 respectively in the allergic asthma population. There was significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies between the allergic asthma patients and control subjects (P=0.046, P=0.048).

CONCLUSIONThere are polymorphism sites of the promoter region in TIM-3 , and one of these sites, the -574 G/T polymorphism site, may be associated with allergic asthma in the population of adult Hans from Hubei province of China.