Association of interleukin-1 gene cluster polymorphisms with ischemic stroke in a Chinese population

• Published in: Neurology India 2006-12, Vol.54 (4), p.366-369
• Main Author: Lai Jiangtao, Zhou Dongchen, Xia Shudong, Shang Yunpeng, Zhu Jianhua, Pan Jiaqi, Hua Baolai, Zhu Yicheng, Cui Liying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Atheroembolism; Brain Ischemia - complications; Brain Ischemia - genetics; Cardiovascular diseases; Cerebrovascular accident, genetics, interleukins, polymorphism; China - epidemiology; Complications and side effects; Drug therapy; Female; Gene Frequency; Genetic polymorphisms; Health aspects; Humans; Interleukin-1; Interleukin-1 - genetics; Interleukin-1beta - genetics; Male; Middle Aged; Multigene Family - genetics; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Receptors, Interleukin-1 - genetics; Risk factors; Stroke (Disease); Stroke - etiology; Stroke - genetics
• ISSN: 0028-3886; 1998-4022
• DOI: 10.4103/0028-3886.28107

Background and Aims: Chronic inflammatory process plays an important role in atherothrombosis. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is one of the key modulators of the inflammatory response and its activity is critically regulated by its receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). A variable number tandem repeat polymorphism in intron 2 of IL-1Ra gene and a C to T single base polymorphism in the promoter of IL-1β gene (C-511 →T) have been reported to affect the levels of IL-1 as well as its antagonist, IL-1Ra. It is also reported in several studies that these polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to cardio-cerebral vascular disease. However, data are limited in China. In this article, we studied the relationships between these polymorphisms and the risk of ischemic stroke in China. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twelve patients committed ischemic stroke were compared with 95 demographically matched healthy volunteers. Results: The frequencies of the IL-1Ra 1/1 genotype and IL-1Ra allele 1 (RaFNx011 allele) in stroke patients were significantly higher than those in healthy volunteers [93.7% vs. 82.1%, P =0.014; 0.964 vs. 0.905, P =0.007]. No significant differences were found in the IL-1β -511 genotype and the allele distribution between the two groups. Conclusions: Our results implicated that IL-1 gene polymorphism might be associated with the susceptibility to ischemic stroke.