title: Genetic polymorphism of interleukin-16 and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Common genetic variants in inflammatory cytokine genes can affect the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Interleukin-16 (IL-16), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, plays a pivotal role in inflammatory diseases as well as in the pathogenesis of tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed rs4778889 T/C, rs11556218 T/G, and rs4072111 C/T polymorphisms of IL-16 in 206 patients with NPC and 373 healthy controls in a Chinese population, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) strategy and DNA sequencing methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rs11556218 T/G polymorphism of IL-16 gene was significantly associated with the susceptibility to NPC. The TG genotype was associated with a significantly higher risk of NPC as compared with the TT genotype (OR=1.67; 95% CI, 1.18-2.36). Patients carrying the G allele had a significantly higher risk for developing NPC compared to individuals carrying the T allele (OR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.03-1.78).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows an association between IL-16 gene polymorphisms and the risk of NPC, and our data suggests that IL-16 gene polymorphisms may be useful as genetic susceptibility markers for NPC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, PR China.
authors.forename: Lin-Bo
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Wei-Bo
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Xin-Min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Mei-Li
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Wen-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D019410:Interleukin-16 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
chemical_list: D019410:Interleukin-16