Interleukin-6 gene polymorphism -174G/C influences plasma lipid levels in women.
Elevated levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) have been associated with cardiovascular risk factors. The objective of this study was to investigate potential associations between the promoter polymorphism IL-6 -174G/C and the following indices of metabolism: BMI, waist-to-hip ratio, and plasma levels of IL-6, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, leptin, and C-reactive protein in 252 42-year-old women and 245 51-year-old men. Subgroups were also studied 5 years later. The CC genotype of the IL-6 polymorphism was associated with lower levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (p < 0.001) in women. This finding was replicated in the follow-up, when a significant association between the CC genotype and low triglycerides was also observed. The association between the C allele and lipid pattern found in women was not found in men, where on the contrary, C carriers tended to display elevated triglycerides. IL-6 genotype was not associated with IL-6 plasma levels in either sample. The results suggest different effects of the IL-6 polymorphism on metabolic indices in women and men. None of the associations between IL-6 genotype and lipid pattern seemed to result from an effect of the polymorphism on IL-6 plasma levels.
Henningsson
Susanne
S
Department of Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Box 431, SE-405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. susanne.henningsson@pharm.gu.se
Håkansson
Anna
A
Westberg
Lars
L
Baghaei
Fariba
F
Rosmond
Roland
R
Holm
Göran
G
Ekman
Agneta
A
Nissbrandt
Hans
H
Eriksson
Elias
E
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism
D015850:Interleukin-6; D008055:Lipids; D014280:Triglycerides