The-174/-597 promoter polymorphisms in the interleukin-6 gene are not associated with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) has been implicated in the etiology of experimental au toimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in transgenic, animals and contributes to neuropathology in humans. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at positio n -174 in the IL-6 gene promoter (IL-6pr) appears to influence IL-6 express ion. Complete linkage disequilibrium was observed between the -174 and the -597 alleles. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influen ce of -174/-597 IL-6pr polymorphisms on susceptibility to multiple sclerosi s (MS). Genotyping of the -597 variant was performed by an RFLP method in 1 31 MS patients [88 relapsing-remitting (RR-MS), 43 secondary progressive (S P-MS)] and 157 health subjects. No differences were found between MS patien ts and controls with respect to the distribution of -597 IL-6pr genotypes. Neither was found when genotypes were analyzed according to the clinical co urse of the disease (RR-MS or SP-MS). Future studies focusing on complex tr anscriptional interactions between the IL-6pr and 3 ' flanking region polym orphic sites will be necessary to determine the IL-6 haplotype influence on susceptibility to MS. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.