title: The interleukin-6-174 promoter polymorphism is associated with a risk of development of Kaposi's sarcoma in renal transplant recipients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an angio-proliferative inflammation lesion, is frequently secondary to clinical immunosuppression such as after renal transplantation. KS growth is promoted by the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and is also correlated with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a sample of 15 renal transplant patients with KS and 40 patients without KS, we explored the influence of genetic differences in the production of IL-6 by promoter polymorphisms G-174C as well as the correlation with HHV-8 DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The G allele homozygotes, which are associated with increased IL-6 production, had increased KS incidence (p=0.008). Therefore increased IL-6 production constitutes a risk factor which should be considered in clinical immunosuppression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In addition to the HHV-8 infection, the interleukin-6 promoter polymorphism G-174C is associated with a risk of development of KS in renal transplant recipients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology-Embryology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece. mgazouli@med.uoa.gr
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gazouli
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zavos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papaconstantinou
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Lukas
authors.forename: Anastassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zografidis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Boletis
authors.forename: Alkiviadis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kostakis
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D019288:Herpesvirus 8, Human / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012514:Sarcoma, Kaposi / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015850:Interleukin-6