title: Role of the interleukin-6 -174 G>C gene polymorphism in retinal artery occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) are supposed to play a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis. A common polymorphism in the promoter of the IL-6 gene (IL-6 -174G>C) affects plasma IL-6 concentrations and has been suggested as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present case-control study was to investigate the role of this polymorphism for retinal artery occlusion (RAO).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-two patients with RAO and 307 control subjects were genotyped for the IL-6 -174G>C polymorphism. Genotypes were determined by fluorogenic exonuclease (TaqMan) assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the CC genotype was significantly lower in patients with RAO than in control subjects (10.4% versus 19.9%; P=0.006). Homozygosity for the C allele was associated with an odds ratio of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.89) for RAO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CC genotype of the IL-6 -174G>C polymorphism may be associated with a protective effect against RAO.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weger
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Steinbrugger
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: März
authors.forename: Yosuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: El-Shabrawi
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weger
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schmut
authors.forename: Wilfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Renner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000235:genetics*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6