Objective: Genetic factors may determine susceptibility to develop alcoholic liver cirrhosis, although it remains uncertain why only a minority of alcoholics suffers from this disease. A decrease in serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) is usually found in alcoholic cirrhotics. In this study we examined the relationship between the -330T>G IL-2 gene (IL2) polymorphism and alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
Methods: Genotyping of the aforementioned polymorphism was done by polymerase chain reaction and digestion with restriction enzymes in 257 male alcoholics (161 without liver disease and 96 with alcoholic liver cirrhosis) and 101 healthy controls. A logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for potential confounders and to analyze the model of inheritance.
Results: We found an association between the -330T>G IL2 polymorphism and alcoholic liver cirrhosis: the frequency of the allele T carriers (genotype TT and GT) was significantly higher in alcoholics with cirrhosis (96.9%) than in those without liver disease (89.4%, P=0.043).
Conclusion: We report for the first time that the possession of the -330T allele of the IL2 is associated with a higher risk of developing alcoholic liver cirrhosis and this fact may favor the progression of alcoholic liver disease.