Interleukin-10 (IL10) promoter polymorphisms and multiple sclerosis

Interleukin-10 (IL10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which may modulate d isease expression in multiple sclerosis (MS). Three dimorphic polymorphisms within the IL10 promoter region at positions - 1082, - 819 and - 519 have previously been identified. The - 1082*A allele has been associated with lo w and the - 1082*G allele with high in vitro IL10 production. We have genot yped 185 Caucasian MS patients and 211 ethnically matched controls for each of these three dimorphisms. MS patients were stratified for severity of di sease outcome. No associations were found for any IL10 promoter polymorphis ms when the MS cases were compared with controls or with disease outcome wi th regards to disability. IL10 polymorphism does not appear to be associate d with MS or to influence disease progression. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B. V. All rights reserved.