The Association of Functional Polymorphisms of IL-6 Gene Promoter with Stroke: Analysis in a Persian Population

Sequence variations in genes involved in inflammation system contribute to the risk of several cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke. Interleukin-6, a pleiotropic cytokine, is associated with cardiovascular disease, especially stroke. In other words, cerebral ischemia and inflammation are strongly linked. In the present study, we performed a genetic association study on two single nucleotide polymorphisms (IL6 -572 and -174 G>C) in an Iranian population in Khorasan province.
Our hypothesis was tested in this case-control study on stroke patients as well as healthy controls that matched for age, sex, and some traditional risk factors. These polymorphisms were detected by Real time Taq man probe and PCR-RFLP.
After adjustment for the confounding risk factors, there was an association between the female patients who suffer from stroke and the IL-6 -572 G>C polymorphism and also Hemorrhagic subtype of stroke. Furthermore, there was no association between IL-6 -174 G>C and stroke, exceptone for one allele in male group.
In conclusion, genotype of IL-6 -572 G>C May be a genetics risk factor that enhances the risk for stroke in studied population. However, it is highly controversial whether IL-6 -174 G>C is a susceptible gene for stroke in this population. This is needed to be confirmed in a larger population.