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A meta-analysis of the association of IL-6 −174 G/C and −572 G/C polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus risk

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Abstract

The results from previous studies on association of IL-6 −174 G/C and −572 G/C polymorphisms with the risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remained inconsistent. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between these two polymorphisms and SLE susceptibility. A literature-based search was conducted to identify all relevant studies. Pooled data were estimated by fixed- and random-effects models when appropriate. Nine publications were included in the meta-analysis, seven for −174 G/C polymorphism and three for −572 G/C polymorphism. The results indicated that IL-6 −174 G/C polymorphism was significantly associated with SLE risk for recessive model and allele analysis in overall populations (OR 1.64, 95 % CI 1.10–2.45, P = 0.016; and 1.34, 1.05–1.72, P = 0.019, respectively, for recessive model and allele analysis) or in Caucasians (OR 1.37, 95 % CI 1.04–1.82, P = 0.027; and 1.27, 1.04–1.54, P = 0.018, respectively, for recessive model and allele analysis). Also, significant association between IL-6 −572 G/C polymorphism and SLE was found under recessive model (OR 1.49, 95 % CI 1.10–2.01, P = 0.009), but not under dominant model and allele analysis (OR 1.05, 95 % CI 0.77–1.43, P = 0.750; and 1.21, 1.00–1.48, P = 0.054, respectively, for dominant model and allele analysis). Additionally, our meta-analysis showed that IL-6 −174 G/C polymorphism was significantly associated with discoid skin lesions (P < 0.05). The present study indicates that IL-6 −174 G/C and −572 G/C polymorphisms could be candidates for susceptibility to SLE. Furthermore, a large number of studies should be performed to explore the association of IL-6 polymorphisms with the risk and clinical characteristics of SLE patients in different ethnics.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Grants from the China National Natural Science Foundation Council (81001333 and 81102262) and Changzheng Hospital Funds for Young Scholar (2011CZQN06).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai, China

    Zaixing Yang, Yan Liang, Baodong Qin & Renqian Zhong

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  1. Zaixing Yang
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  2. Yan Liang
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  3. Baodong Qin
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Correspondence to Zaixing Yang or Renqian Zhong.

Additional information

Zaixing Yang, Yan Liang and Baodong Qin contributed equally to this work.

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Yang, Z., Liang, Y., Qin, B. et al. A meta-analysis of the association of IL-6 −174 G/C and −572 G/C polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus risk. Rheumatol Int 34, 199–205 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2855-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-013-2855-4

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