Marina N Plataki1, Maria I Zervou2, George Samonis1,2, Vasiliki Daraki3, George N Goulielmos2, Diamantis P Kofteridis1. 1. 1 Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion and Laboratory of Internal Medicine-Host Defense Unit , School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece . 2. 2 Section of Molecular Pathology and Human Genetics, Laboratory of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Heraklion, Crete, Greece . 3. 3 Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Hospital of Crete , Heraklion, Crete, Greece .
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine, is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and is considered an independent predictor of T2D. IL-6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with higher levels of IL-6. This study investigated the role of an IL-6 gene polymorphism and its possible association to T2D in the genetically homogeneous Greek population of the island of Crete. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 144 patients with T2D and 180 controls, all Cretans, selected from the Diabetes Clinic and the Department of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, were genotyped for the IL-6 -174G>C (rs1800795) SNP by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: The G/C genotype and the minor allele C of the IL-6 rs1800795 SNP were more common in individuals with T2D than controls (p = 0.004, odds ratio [OR] = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-3.18 and p = 0.011, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.11-2.26, respectively). CONCLUSION: An association of the rs1800795 SNP of the IL-6 gene with T2D has been detected for the first time in Cretans. The present results, in combination with those presented previously from different ethnic/racial populations, highlight the necessity of comparative studies among different ethnic/racial populations to detect genetic characteristics and associations with T2D.
BACKGROUND:Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a proinflammatory cytokine, is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and is considered an independent predictor of T2D. IL-6 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been associated with higher levels of IL-6. This study investigated the role of an IL-6 gene polymorphism and its possible association to T2D in the genetically homogeneous Greek population of the island of Crete. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 144 patients with T2D and 180 controls, all Cretans, selected from the Diabetes Clinic and the Department of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece, were genotyped for the IL-6 -174G>C (rs1800795) SNP by the restriction fragment length polymorphism method. RESULTS: The G/C genotype and the minor allele C of the IL-6rs1800795 SNP were more common in individuals with T2D than controls (p = 0.004, odds ratio [OR] = 1.98, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.24-3.18 and p = 0.011, OR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.11-2.26, respectively). CONCLUSION: An association of the rs1800795 SNP of the IL-6 gene with T2D has been detected for the first time in Cretans. The present results, in combination with those presented previously from different ethnic/racial populations, highlight the necessity of comparative studies among different ethnic/racial populations to detect genetic characteristics and associations with T2D.