Effect of pro-inflammatory cytokine (IFN-γ +874, IL-18–137 G/C,–607 C/A) genes in relation to risk of vesico-ureteral reflux

Abstract

Aim: The aim this work is to estimate whether genetic polymorphisms of +874 of IFN-γ and −137 G/C,−607 C/A of IL-18 genes are implicated in the development of VUR, because a vast literature indicates that genetic variations play a significant role in the pathogenesis of VUR. Materials and methods: The PCR single specific primer (SSP) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) were applied for analyzing the polymorphic sites of −137 G/C,−607 C/A of IL-18 and +874 of IFN-γ genes in 110 healthy controls and 124 VUR children. Results: A significant relationship was found between AT and combined AT + TT genotypes of IFN-γ and highly increased risk of VUR (OR = 4.2, 95% CI, 2.00–9.24; p < 0.0001: OR = 4.00, 95% CI, 1.90–8.70, p < 0.0001, respectively). On the other hand, the genotype frequency of IL18-137 G/C indicated a significant assessment of the decrease risk of VUR for GC and GC + CC genotypes (OR = 0.53, 95% CI, 0.3–0.9; p = 0.02: OR = 0.53, 95% CI, 0.3–0.92 p = 0.01, respectively). No significant association was found between −607 C/A polymorphism of IL-18 and UVR. Conclusion: To the author's best knowledge, this is the first data regarding polymorphism of IFN-γ (+874) cytokine genes that highly increased the risk of VUR. To confirm the presented data, further studies should be done in different populations with a larger sample size.