Interleukin-6 polymorphism is associated with chorioamnionitis and neonatal infections in preterm infants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether genotypes of interleukin (IL)-6 gene promoter positions -174 and -572 are associated with histologic chorioamnionitis and neonatal inflammatory disease in preterm infants.


METHODS
DNA from very low birth weight or very preterm infants (n = 107) was genotyped for IL-6-174 and -572 polymorphisms (GG/GC/CC). The placentas were analyzed for histological inflammatory findings. Data on neonatal inflammatory diseases, including chronic lung disease (CLD), necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), and septicemia, were collected using the definitions of the Vermont Oxford Network database.


RESULTS
In univariate analyses, the IL-6-174 GG genotype was associated with a higher incidence of histologic chorioamnionitis. In multivariate analyses, the -174 GG and -572 GC genotypes were correlated with histologic chorioamnionitis (P = .039 and .009, respectively). Gestational age was not associated with genotype polymorphisms. IL-6-174 genotypes were not associated with CLD and/or NEC, but the CC genotype was correlated with septicemia in both univariate and multivariate analyses (P = .027). IL-6-572 genotypes were not associated with neonatal inflammatory disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The IL-6-174 GG and -572 GC genotypes were associated with a higher incidence of histologic chorioamnionitis, and the IL-6-174 CC genotype was associated with septicemia in preterm infants. These findings suggest that the genetic composition of the IL-6 promoter area plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of chorioamnionitis and neonatal infections.
Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland. milla.reiman@utu.fi
Milla
M
Reiman
Harry
H
Kujari
Eeva
E
Ekholm
Helena
H
Lapinleimu
Liisa
L
Lehtonen
Leena
L
Haataja
D001724:Birth Weight; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007239:Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011247:Pregnancy; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012044:Regression Analysis
D015850:Interleukin-6