Interleukin 6 gene promoter polymorphism is not associated with ankylosingspondylitis

Objective. To investigate the possible association between the recently des cribed interleukin 6 (IL-6) promoter polymorphisms at position -174, and su sceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods. Ninety-two patients with AS, 157 healthy controls, and an addition al group of 52 HLA-B27 positive unrelated individuals were included in this study, The -174 polymorphic site in the promoter region of IL-ti gene was typed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism . Results, No statistically significant differences were observed when IL-6 p romoter genotype and allele distribution between patients with AS and healt hy controls were compared. Conclusion. Our results suggest the -173 IL-6 polymorphism does not play an important role in susceptibility to AS. Larger studies are needed to provi de more conclusive evidence on the role of-174 IL-6 polymorphism in AS.