title: Interleukin-8 promoter polymorphism -251A/T is a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether four expression-related cytokine polymorphisms are associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA from 478 cases with AMD and 555 normal controls was genotyped for the pro-inflammatory IL1beta -511C/T, IL6 -174C/G, IL8 -251A/T and anti-inflammatory IL10 -1082G/A cytokine polymorphisms using the 5' nuclease TaqMan(R) assay for allelic discrimination. Associations with AMD were analysed using allelic frequencies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The -251A allele of the IL8 promoter gene polymorphism was more prevalent in AMD patients than controls (p = 0.037, OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01 to 1.44). Adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), current smoking and past smoking status did not alter the AMD association significantly (corrected p value = 0.043, OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.0 to 1.50).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The pro-inflammatory homozygous IL8 -251AA genotype is an important risk factor for AMD. This may have implications for future therapy with biological agents that could target this cytokine.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurosciences Division, Mailpoint 806, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Goverdhan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ennis
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hannan
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Madhusudhana
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cree
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Luff
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lotery
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8