title: Association between IL-6-174G/C polymorphism and risk of multiple sclerosis: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine and important mediator of many inflammatory processes, which might affect susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of IL-6-174G/C polymorphism on the risk of MS using a meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Pubmed, ISI Web of Science, Wanfang, VIP, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were screened and six studies were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to evaluate the association between the IL-6-174G/C polymorphism and risk of MS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant association between the IL-6-174G/C polymorphism and risk of MS was observed in overall analyses. With stratification according to ethnicity, we found that carriers with the IL-6-174CC genotype had a 1.87-fold increased risk for the development of MS in Asians (recessive model: OR=1.87, 95% CI, 1.08-3.24), but not in Caucasians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis provides evidence that the IL-6-174G/C polymorphism may be a risk factor for the development of MS in Asians. Further association studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm the result in different populations.
authors: 1 Air Force Centre of Aviation Medical Evaluation and Training in Hangzhou , Hangzhou, China .
authors: Shan
authors: S
authors: Hu
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Chen
authors: Xu-Dong
authors: XD
authors: Sun
authors: Fu-Jin
authors: FJ
authors: Li
authors: Qin-Fen
authors: QF
authors: Shu
authors: Xiao-Li
authors: XL
authors: Liu
authors: Shou-Feng
authors: SF
authors: Jiang
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6