Influence of interleukin-1β gene polymorphisms on age-at-onset of sporadic Parkinson's disease

Abstract

We studied genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region (position -511) and exon 5 (position +3953) of the interleukin (IL)-1β gene in 122 Japanese patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 112 controls. We also examined polymorphisms in the IL–1α and the IL–1 receptor antagonist genes. No significant difference was found in these genetic markers between PD patients and controls. However, PD patients with homozygotes for allele 1 at position -511 of the IL–1β gene ( IL–1B-511*1), a low producer of IL–1β, were significantly earlier in the disease onset than those with the IL–1B-511*2 homozygotes, a high producer of IL–1β. This suggests that IL–1β might play a role, possibly a protective effect for dopaminergic neurons, in PD. Further population and functional studies are necessary to clarify the role of IL–1β in PD patients.