Interleukin-1B (IL-1B) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) gene polymorphisms are not associated with tubal pathology and Chlamydia trachomatis-related tubal factor subfertility.
BACKGROUND
Chlamydia trachomatis infections have been associated with tubal pathology. However, not all C.trachomatis-infected women actually develop tubal pathology. Recently, host genetic factors such as the interleukin-1 gene cluster have been linked to inflammatory and infectious diseases.


METHODS
Dutch Caucasian women were investigated for (i) the role of interleukin-1B (IL-1B) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) gene polymorphisms in tubal pathology (group 1); and (ii) the presence of these gene polymorphisms in C.trachomatis IgG-positive women with and without tubal pathology (group 2). Group 1 consisted of women with (n = 40) or without (n = 95) tubal pathology, respectively, and group 2 of C.trachomatis IgG-positive women of whom 28 had tubal pathology at laparoscopy and 47 did not. IL-1B-511 and IL-1B+3954 gene polymorphisms were assessed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) of the IL-1RN gene were assessed by a PCR-based assay.


RESULTS
Neither IL-1B-511, IL-1B+3954 nor IL-1RN genotypes, allele or carrier frequencies showed significant association with tubal pathology or C.trachomatis post-infection-based tubal pathology.


CONCLUSIONS
The data obtained suggest that specific IL-1 gene polymorphisms are not associated with the tubal pathology risk or to the development of C.trachomatis-based post-infectious severe sequelae.
Laboratory of Immunogenetics, VU University Medical Centrum, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Laura S
LS
Murillo
Jolande A
JA
Land
Jolein
J
Pleijster
Cathrien A
CA
Bruggeman
A Salvador
AS
Peña
Servaas A
SA
Morré
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000150:complications*; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000276:immunology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005184:Fallopian Tube Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; C507763:IL1RN protein, human; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins