Interleukin-6 gene -572G>C polymorphism in Egyptian children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association of -572G > C polymorphism with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) in children.BackgroundInterleukin 6 (IL-6) gene promoter polymorphisms, including -572G > C polymorphism, have been implicated in INS.Patients and methodsA total of 55 Egyptian children with INS were recruited along with 51 healthy controls. Genotyping for IL-6 gene -572G > C polymorphism was performed by PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism.ResultsGC genotype was more prevalent among patients compared with controls [40 vs. 7.8%, odds ratio (OR)=5.5, P = 0.002], but there was no significant difference between patients and controls regarding CC genotype (9.1 vs. 2%, OR = 5, P = 0.14). Under the dominant model, the pooled GC + CC was more prevalent among patients compared with controls (OR = 5.4, P < 0.001). The distribution of C allele was significantly higher among patients compared with controls (29.1 vs. 5.9%, OR = 5.3, P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between patients and controls regarding the prevalence of any of the alleles or genotypes under codominant, recessive, or dominant models.ConclusionIL-6 gene -572G > C polymorphism confers susceptibility to INS among children, but it has no influence on the response to steroids.