BMC Nephrology (Jan 2012)

Pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphisms and chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study

  • Okada Rieko,
  • Wakai Kenji,
  • Naito Mariko,
  • Morita Emi,
  • Kawai Sayo,
  • Hamajima Nobuyuki,
  • Hara Megumi,
  • Takashima Naoyuki,
  • Suzuki Sadao,
  • Takezaki Toshiro,
  • Ohnaka Keizo,
  • Arisawa Kokichi,
  • Hirohata Hiroshi,
  • Matsuo Keitaro,
  • Mikami Haruo,
  • Kubo Michiaki,
  • Tanaka Hideo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2369-13-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
p. 2

Abstract

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Abstract Background The aim of this study was to explore the associations between common potential functional promoter polymorphisms in pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine genes and kidney function/chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence in a large Japanese population. Methods A total of 3,323 subjects aged 35-69 were genotyped for all 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of candidate genes with minor allele frequencies of > 0.100 in Japanese populations. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and CKD prevalence (eGFR 2) of the subjects were compared among the genotypes. Results A higher eGFR and lower prevalence of CKD were observed for the homozygous variants of IL4 -33CC (high IL-4 [anti-inflammatory cytokine]-producing genotype) and IL6 -572GG (low IL-6 [pro-inflammatory cytokine]-producing genotype). Subjects with IL4 CC + IL6 GG showed the highest mean eGFR (79.1 ml/min/1.73 m2) and lowest CKD prevalence (0.0%), while subjects carrying IL4 TT + IL6 CC showed the lowest mean eGFR (73.4 ml/min/1.73 m2) and highest CKD prevalence (17.9%). Conclusions The functional promoter polymorphisms IL4 T-33C (rs2070874) and IL6 C-572G (rs1800796), which are the only SNPs that affect the IL-4 and IL-6 levels in Japanese subjects, were associated with kidney function and CKD prevalence in a large Japanese population.