Objective: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are multifactorial disorders, characterized by failure to limit the inflammatory response to luminal antigens. Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis, but little is known about the accountable genes. Increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines appears crucial in the initiation of the inflammatory response.
Methods: To evaluate the role of the IL-6 gene in IBD, a functionally relevant polymorphism in the promoter region (G/C at position -174) has been genotyped in 169 patients with Crohn's disease (CD), 133 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 440 healthy controls by using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.
Results: No significant differences were apparent in the allele, genotype and carrier frequencies between patients and controls.
Conclusion: High secretion of IL-6 does not seem to play a major role in the genetic predisposition to IBD.