Lack of Association Between CD28 Gene Polymorphism and Multiple Myeloma in a Polish Population

Background. Immunophenotypic studies revealed that CD28, a T cell-restricted molecule, is expressed on malignant plasma cells and its expression in multiple myeloma (MM) highly correlates with poor prognosis and disease progression, while in normal plasma cells CD28 expression is always absent or only weakly positive in small subsets. Objectives. As dysregulated expression and/or function of CD28 in myeloma cells may be due to polymorphism of the corresponding gene, this study was undertaken to evaluate the association between CD28c.17 + 3T > C gene polymorphism and multiple myeloma in a Polish population. Material and Methods. One hundred fifty patients with MM and 238 healthy subjects were examined. The T > C transition at position 17 in intron 3 of the CD28 gene was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction followed by labeling with a SNaPshot kit and detected using a capillary genetic analyzer. Results. The genotype, allele, and phenotype frequencies did not significantly differ between MM patients and controls. Conclusions. The present study was unable to reveal any association between CD28c. 17 + 3T > C gene polymorphism and the risk of multiple myeloma in a Polish population (Adv Clin Exp Med 2009, 18, 2, 129-133).