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Objective: Serum angiotensin converting enzyme (SAGE) increases in various diseases including sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. Genetic control of SAGE levels has been suggested by the identification of ACE gene insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism. Furthermore ACE gene I/D polymorphism suggested as a marker of risk in the sarcoidosis. In the present study, we investigated the probable association between the ACE gene I/D polymorphism and development of sarcoidosis.
Methods: We analyzed the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene in 48 patients with sarcoidosis and 51 patients with tuberculosis. DNA was extracted from the white cells and the I/D polymorphism of the ACE gene was detected by polimerase chain reaction (PCR). In homozygous DD samples, a second PCR reaction with primers that recognize an insertion spesific sequence was performed. The frequencies of the ACE gene’s alleles and genotypes in patients with sarcoidosis and tuberculosis were compared with those of the control group. The association between SACE and ACE gene I/D polymorphism was also investigated in patients with sarcoidosis
Results: The frequency of ACE gene polymorphism in patients with sarcoidosis or tuberculosis was not different from that in control subjects. There was also no association between SACE and ACE gene I/D polymorphism in patients with sarcoidosis.
Conclusion:The data did not support the suggestion that the ACE gene I/D polymorphism is a marker of risk in the sarcoidosis.