title: Interleukin-6 gene (-174 C/G ) and apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms and the risk of Alzheimer disease in a Polish population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inflammation plays a prominent role in Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, and some genetic variations in the IL-6 gene have been reported to be associated with a risk of AD. However, the results of the conducted studies are equivocal.
  
  
  METHODS
  We genotyped IL-6 (-174 C/G) and apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) common polymorphisms in a large case-controlled study in a Polish population. We included 361 patients aged ≥ 65 years with AD (mean age 75.8 ± 5.3 years, 232 females [64.3%]) and 200 controls (75.3 ± 7.4 years; 119 females [59.5%]), without any neurological deficit, cognitive complaints or history of neurological diseases. The IL-6 polymorphism was genotyped using TaqMan SNP allelic discrimination by means of an ABI 7900HT (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of the IL-6 (-174 C/G) genotypes was similar to that in the controls (AD: C/C = 15.79%, C/G = 51.25%, G/G = 32.96% vs. controls: C/C = 21.50%, C/G = 45.50%, G/G = 33.0%, p > 0.05). Our study confirms previous reports that APOE 4 is strongly related to the risk of AD (OR = 6.17; 95% CI: 4.01-9.49). APOE status did not affect the distribution of the studied IL-6 polymorphism.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-6 (-174 C/G) polymorphism is not a risk factor for late onset AD in a Polish population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Jagiellonian University, ul. Botaniczna 3, 31-503 Krakow. Aleksandra.Klimkowicz@mp.pl
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klimkowicz-Mrowiec
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wołkow
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spisak
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maruszak
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Styczyńska
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barcikowska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szczudlik
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Słowik
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E; D015850:Interleukin-6