Polymorphisms in the interleukin-12/18 genes and recurrent spontaneous abortion.
OBJECTIVE
Interleukin (IL) IL-12/IL-18 are involved in uterine NK cells control of uterine vascular development. Polymorphisms in the IL-12/IL-18 genes could modify the cytokine balance, which might result in an increased susceptibility to recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted to determine the association between the IL12 (I/D) and IL18 (-607C>A, -137G>C) gene polymorphisms and the risk of RSA in 125 women with RSA and in 136 controls.


RESULTS
The frequencies of DD, ID, II for IL-12 were, 25.6%, 52.8% and 21.6% respectively, in patients versus 21.3%, 51.5% and 27.2% respectively in controls; the frequencies of CC, CA, AA genotypes for IL-18 (-607) were, 34.4%, 54.4% and 11.2% respectively in patients versus 30.1%, 58.1% and 11.8% respectively in controls; the frequencies of GG, GC, CC genotypes for IL-18(-137) were 47.2%, 43.2% and 9.6% respectively in patients and 45.6%, 46.3% and 8.1% respectively in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
IL-12B and IL-18 promoter gene polymorphisms were not associated with RSA in our women.
Ostojić
Sasa
S
Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia.
Volk
Marija
M
Medica
Igor
I
Kapović
Miljenko
M
Meden-Vrtovec
Helena
H
Peterlin
Borut
B
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011247:Pregnancy
C500879:IL12B protein, human; D053762:Interleukin-12 Subunit p40; D020382:Interleukin-18; D004247:DNA