A -174G/C polymorphism of the interleukin-6 gene in patients with lacunar infarction.
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a central role in the pathogenesis of stroke. A base pair substitution -174G/C in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene regulates IL-6 gene expression. We compared the prevalence of this polymorphism in patients with lacunar stroke and in an age- and sex-matched cohort of asymptomatic controls. Eighty-two patients with lacunar stroke and 82 asymptomatic controls were prospectively assessed and genotyped for the -174G/C polymorphism in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene. Demographics and vascular risk factors were recorded in both groups. A brain computed tomography scan/magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the clinical diagnosis of lacunar stroke in all patients. The prevalence of CC genotype (18.3 vs. 7.3%, P=0.03), and the frequency of C allele (42.7 vs. 31.1%, P=0.03) were statistically significantly higher in patients with lacunar stroke than in asymptomatic controls. Expectedly, patients with lacunar stroke had a higher prevalence of vascular risk factors than asymptomatic controls. A logistic regression model showed that independent variables associated with lacunar stroke included history of hypertension (odds ratio (OR), 7.02; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 3.11-15.81), diabetes (OR, 5.37; 95% CI, 1.52-8.89), hyperlipidemia (OR, 3.43; 95% CI, 1.04-11.25), smoking (OR, 5.84; 95% CI, 2.15-15.84), and CC genotype of the -174G/C IL-6 gene polymorphism (OR, 4.28; 95% CI, 1.22-15.00). These findings suggest that lacunar stroke might result from genetic susceptibility to inflammation-mediated damage in concert with atherosclerotic risk factors.
Revilla
Marián
M
Service of Neurology, Hospital Clinic Universitari, Villarroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
Obach
Víctor
V
Cervera
Alvaro
A
Dávalos
Antonio
A
Castillo
José
J
Chamorro
Angel
A
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003596:Cytosine / Q000378:metabolism; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005838:Genotype; D006147:Guanine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology
D015850:Interleukin-6; D006147:Guanine; D003596:Cytosine