This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 36/2/249    most recent 01.STR.0000151329.84830.37v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Weger, M. Articles by Renner, W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Weger, M. Articles by Renner, W. Related Collections Contractile function Risk Factors Genetics of cardiovascular disease

(Stroke. 2005;36:249.)
© 2005 American Heart Association, Inc.

Original Contributions

Role of the Interleukin-6 –174 G>C Gene Polymorphism in Retinal Artery Occlusion

Martin Weger, MD; Iris Steinbrugger, MD; Anton Haas, MD; Winfried März, MD; Yosuf El-Shabrawi, MD; Wolfgang Weger, MD; Otto Schmut, PhD Wilfried Renner, PhD

From the Department of Ophthalmology (M.W., I.S., A.H., Y.E.-S., W.W., O.S.), and the Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics (W.M., W.R.), Medical University, Graz, Austria.

Correspondence to Dr Wilfried Renner, Clinical Institute of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Auenbruggerplatz 30, A-8036 Graz, Austria. E-mail wilfried.renner{at}meduni-graz.at

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.

Key Words: atherosclerosis • genetics • interleukin-6 • ophthalmology • retinal artery occlusion • risk factors

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A. R. Tso, J. G. Merino, and S. Warach Interleukin-6 174G/C Polymorphism and Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review Stroke, November 1, 2007; 38(11): 3070 - 3075. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Sawczenko, O. Azooz, J. Paraszczuk, M. Idestrom, N. M. Croft, M. O. Savage, A. B. Ballinger, and I. R. Sanderson Intestinal inflammation-induced growth retardation acts through IL-6 in rats and depends on the -174 IL-6 G/C polymorphism in children PNAS, September 13, 2005; 102(37): 13260 - 13265. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]