Association of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) Gene Polymorphisms with Uterine Leiomyoma

Uterine leiomyomas are common benign uterine smooth muscle tumors which cause abnormal bleeding and reduced fertility rates which are dependent on estrogen for their growth and occur in approximately 25 to 30% of women above 30.These tumors are the most common cause of hysterectomy and surgery and seriously affect women community''s health. The purpose of this study is to examine IL-1 beta gene polymorphism (IL-1β) in region IL-1β-511C>T (Promoter) and IL-1β 3954 C>T (Exon 5) and its relationship with uterine leiomyomas in women of Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari. In this case-control study, 159 women with leiomyomas and 157 healthy women were studied as controls and genotype distribution of two polymorphisms in IL-1β gene was investigated through PCR-RFLP method and the test results were analyzed using x 2 test. The genotypic and allelic frequency in the IL-1β-511 gene promoter region was compared in the patient and control groups, and there was a statistically significant difference between patient and control groups (p<0.05). But there was no significant relationship between polymorphisms IL-1b3954 and increased risk of uterine leiomyomas in studied women. Our findings showed that there is a significant relationship between polymorphisms IL-1β-511C>T and increased risk of uterine leiomyomas in studied women, and this polymorphism may be involved in the disease.