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Abstract #51841 Published in IGR 14-4
Role of interleukin 6-174G>C polymorphism in primary open-angle glaucoma
Zimmermann C; Weger M; Faschinger C; Renner W; Mossböck GEuropean Journal of Ophthalmology 2012; 23: 183-186
PURPOSE: In addition to its proinflammatory effects, interleukin (IL)-6 also possesses antiapoptotic properties. Recently, IL-6 has been reported to protect retinal ganglion cells from pressure-induced apoptosis, indicating a possible role in the pathogenesis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). A common polymorphism in the promoter region of IL-6 gene at position -174 characterized by a substitution from G to C has been found to decrease transcription rate of IL-6. The aim of our study was to investigate a hypothesized association between IL-6-174G>C polymorphism and POAG in Caucasian patients. METHODS: The present case-control study comprised 191 unrelated patients with POAG and 191 control subjects, matched for age and sex. Genotyping of the IL-6-174G>C polymorphism was done using polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Allelic frequencies and genotype distribution of IL-6-174G>C did not significantly differ between patients with POAG and control subjects (p>0.05). Presence of the IL-6-174C allele was associated with a nonsignificant odds ratio of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.46-1.32; p=0.78) for POAG. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the functional IL-6-174G>C polymorphism itself is unlikely a major risk factor for POAG.
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Graz, Graz - Austria.
Full articleClassification:
11.8 Neuroprotection (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
3.4.2 Gene studies (Part of: 3 Laboratory methods > 3.4 Molecular genetics)