The --174 G to C polymorphism of interleukin-6 gene is very rare in koreans.
The proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-6 (IL-6), seems to be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of IgA nephropathy. Moreover, the transcriptional activity of the IL-6 gene and the plasma levels of IL-6 protein are associated with a single G/C base exchange polymorphism at position -174 of the IL-6 gene promoter. Using PCR-RFLP and PCR product sequencing, we examined the -174 polymorphism in 104 IgA nephropathy patients and in 53 of the normal Korean population. Only 2 GC heterozygous variants and no CC homozygous variants were found (C allele frequency=0.006). These results suggest that the frequency of the C allele in the Korean population is considerably lower than in the Caucasian population, and it appears that the -174 G to C polymorphism of IL-6 is very rare in Eastern Asians. And, the IL-6 polymorphism at -174 is unlikely to contribute significantly to susceptibility to or the progression of IgA nephropathy in Koreans.
Lim
Chun Soo
CS
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul Municipal Boramae Hospital, Seoul, Korea. cslimjy@snu.ac.kr
Zheng
Shouhuan
S
Kim
Yon Su
YS
Ahn
Curie
C
Han
Jin Suk
JS
Kim
Suhnggwon
S
Lee
Jung Sang
JS
Chae
Dong-Wang
DW
D000483:Alleles; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005922:Glomerulonephritis, IGA / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D007723:Korea; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
D015850:Interleukin-6