BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) are supposed to play a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis. A common polymorphism in the promoter of the IL-6 gene (IL-6 -174G>C) affects plasma IL-6 concentrations and has been suggested as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present case-control study was to investigate the role of this polymorphism for retinal artery occlusion (RAO). METHODS: One hundred eighty-two patients with RAO and 307 control subjects were genotyped for the IL-6 -174G>C polymorphism. Genotypes were determined by fluorogenic exonuclease (TaqMan) assay. RESULTS: The prevalence of the CC genotype was significantly lower in patients with RAO than in control subjects (10.4% versus 19.9%; P=0.006). Homozygosity for the C allele was associated with an odds ratio of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.89) for RAO. CONCLUSIONS: The CC genotype of the IL-6 -174G>C polymorphism may be associated with a protective effect against RAO.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Proinflammatory cytokines including interleukin-6 (IL-6) are supposed to play a pivotal role in the development of atherosclerosis. A common polymorphism in the promoter of the IL-6 gene (IL-6 -174G>C) affects plasma IL-6 concentrations and has been suggested as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present case-control study was to investigate the role of this polymorphism for retinal artery occlusion (RAO). METHODS: One hundred eighty-two patients with RAO and 307 control subjects were genotyped for the IL-6 -174G>C polymorphism. Genotypes were determined by fluorogenic exonuclease (TaqMan) assay. RESULTS: The prevalence of the CC genotype was significantly lower in patients with RAO than in control subjects (10.4% versus 19.9%; P=0.006). Homozygosity for the C allele was associated with an odds ratio of 0.50 (95% CI, 0.28 to 0.89) for RAO. CONCLUSIONS: The CC genotype of the IL-6 -174G>C polymorphism may be associated with a protective effect against RAO.
Authors: Andrew Sawczenko; Omeia Azooz; Joanna Paraszczuk; Maja Idestrom; Nick M Croft; Martin O Savage; Anne B Ballinger; Ian R Sanderson Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2005-09-06 Impact factor: 11.205
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Authors: Iris Steinbrugger; Anton Haas; Richard Maier; Wilfried Renner; Monika Mayer; Christoph Werner; Andreas Wedrich; Yosuf El-Shabrawi; Otto Schmut; Martin Weger Journal: Mol Vis Date: 2009-03-27 Impact factor: 2.367