Role of the Promoter Polymorphism IL-6-174G/C in Dermatomyositis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

The promoter polymorphism -174G/C within the interleukin-6 gene(IL-6) has been reported to have a functional importance through the modulation of IL-6 gene expression in vitro and in vivo. IL-6 is thought to play an important role in autoimmune diseases and the effect of its receptor inhibitor-tocilizumab-has been recently studied. The aim of this case-control study was to investigate the association between the interleukin-6 -174G/C single nucleotide polymorphism and the susceptibility to dermatomyositis(DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) in Bulgarian patients. Altogether, 87 patients-52 with SLE and 35 with DM-as well as 80 unrelated healthy controls were included in this study. All of them were analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis(RFLP). The GG genotype and the G allele appeared to be associatedwith SLE, especially inwomen. None of the genotypes showed an association withDM. However, the G allele appeared to be associated withmuscle weakness and it is a risk factor for elevated muscle enzymes. Our results indicate that IL-6 -174G/C polymorphism might be associated with the susceptibility to SLE especially in women. Although it is not associated with DM, it seems that IL-6 -174G/C polymorphism could modulate some clinical features in the autoimmune myopathies.