A polymorphism of the interleukin-6 gene promoter and idiopathic recurrent miscarriage.
BACKGROUND
Cytokines have been described to play a major role in the pathogenesis of idiopathic recurrent miscarriage (IRM). We investigated the association between IRM and a polymorphism of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene and IL-6 serum levels.


METHODS
In a prospective case-control study, we studied 161 women with IRM and 124 healthy controls. Peripheral venous puncture, DNA extraction and PCR were employed to genotype women for the presence of a polymorphism at position -174 in the promoter region of IL-6. Serum IL-6 levels were assessed by a commercially available ELISA.


RESULTS
Allele frequencies among women with IRM and controls were 63.4 and 58.1% respectively for allele G (wild type), and 36.6 and 41.9% respectively for allele C (mutant). No association between allele C and the occurrence of IRM was found (odds ratio 0.8; 95% confidence interval = 0.57-1.12; P = NS). IL-6 serum levels were not significantly different between genotypes and between the study and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first report on an IL-6 polymorphism in IRM. Although known to alter IL-6 expression, the IL-6 polymorphism investigated was not associated with IRM and alterations in IL-6 serum levels in a Middle-European Caucasian population.
Unfried
G
G
Department of Gynecologic Endocrinology, University of Vienna School of Medicine, Vienna, Austria. gertrud.unfried@akh-wien.ac.at
Böcskör
S
S
Endler
G
G
Nagele
F
F
Huber
J C
JC
Tempfer
C B
CB
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies
D015850:Interleukin-6