The interleukin-6 G(-174)C promoter polymorphism does not determine plasma interleukin-6 concentrations in experimental endotoxemia in humans.
BACKGROUND
Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic infections. As the role of the IL-6 G(-174)C polymorphism in determining serum concentrations of IL-6 is controversial, we studied the genotype-specific IL-6 response in a well-standardized model of systemic inflammation.


METHODS
A total of 76 healthy young males (age range, 19-35 years) received a single bolus of 2 ng/kg endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] intravenously. Plasma IL-6 was measured by enzyme immunoassay at 0, 2, 6, and 24 h after LPS infusion, and the IL-6 promoter genotype was analyzed by a mutagenic separated PCR assay.


RESULTS
IL-6 increased 300-fold 2 h after LPS challenge and returned almost to normal within 24 h. Neither basal IL-6 nor the IL-6 response to LPS was significantly affected by the IL-6 promoter genotype.


CONCLUSIONS
The IL-6 G(-174)C promoter polymorphism does not significantly influence basal concentrations of IL-6 or peak IL-6 in human endotoxemia.
Endler
Georg
G
Departments of Clinical Pharmacology and Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Vienna University, Vienna, Austria.
Marsik
Claudia
C
Joukhadar
Christian
C
Marculescu
Rodrig
R
Mayr
Florian
F
Mannhalter
Christine
C
Wagner
Oswald F
OF
Jilma
Bernd
B
D000328:Adult; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005998:Glycine / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D010949:Plasma; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D005998:Glycine