Interleukin-4 gene polymorphism is not involved in the risk of recurrent pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE
Enhanced secretion of type-2 T-helper (Th2) cytokine is a characteristic feature in normal physiological pregnancy. A study has demonstrated defective production of interleukine-4 (IL-4) and other Th2 cytokine in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Several studies have suggested that IL-4 variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) gene polymorphism is probably associated with different IL-4 production.


METHODS
The IL-4 VNTR genotypes were assessed in 109 Japanese women with RPL and 210 ethnically matched women experiencing at least one live birth and no spontaneous abortion.


RESULTS
No significant differences in IL-4 VNTR genotype frequencies were found between the RPL and the control [B1B1 genotype (reference); B1/B2 and B2/B2 genotypes, odds ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.58-1.45].


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that the IL-4 VNTR allele is not a major genetic regulator in RPL.
Department of Public Heath, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Kita 15, Nishi 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Japan. y-saijo@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Yasuaki
Y
Saijo
Fumihiro
F
Sata
Hideto
H
Yamada
Tomoko
T
Konodo
Emi Hirayama
EH
Kato
Soromon
S
Kataoka
Shigeki
S
Shimada
Mamoru
M
Morikawa
Hisanori
H
Minakami
Reiko
R
Kishi
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
D015847:Interleukin-4