title: IL-4 -590C/T polymorphism and susceptibility to liver disease: a meta-analysis and meta-regression.
abstract: Interleukin-4 (IL-4) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays an important role in the immune system. Emerging evidences have shown that the common polymorphism (-590C/T; rs2243250 C>T) in the IL-4 gene may play an important role in the development of various liver diseases, but individually published studies revealed inconclusive results. This meta-analysis aims to derive a more precise estimation of the association between the IL-4 -590C/T polymorphism and susceptibility to liver disease. A literature search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and China BioMedicine databases was conducted on articles published before January 1st, 2013. Crude odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals were calculated to assess the strength of this association. Ten case-control studies were assessed with a total 1,140 patients and 1,649 healthy controls. The meta-analysis results indicated that the IL-4 -590T polymorphism might increase the risks of hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections. Further subgroup analyses showed significant associations between the IL-4 -590T polymorphism and increased risks of liver diseases among Caucasian populations, but similar associations were not found among Asian populations. Univariate and multivariate meta-regression analyses showed that differences in ethnicity and clinical subtype are the major sources of heterogeneity. No publication bias was detected in this meta-analysis. In conclusion, the current meta-analysis indicates that the IL-4 -590T polymorphism may play an important role in increasing HBV and HCV infection risks, especially among Caucasian populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Intensive Care Unit, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhiliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao-Chun
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000208:ethnology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012044:Regression Analysis; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C508598:IL4 protein, human; D015847:Interleukin-4