Background: Cytokines are the important modulators that bind to their relevant receptors in response to some stimuli to mediate the homeostasis. It has been suggested that the imbalance of immune system of the host might affect the generation of diseases, including cancers.
Patients and methods: We investigated the association between six functional polymorphisms of IL-4, IL-13, and IL-4R genes and susceptibility to renal cell cancer in a hospital-based study, including 620 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) patients and 623 controls. Logistic regression model was used to assess the genetic effects on the development of RCC.
Results: Overall, individuals with IL-4R Ile50Val CT/TT genotypes had a 0.34-fold significantly decreased RCC risk (CT/TT versus CC), and the T variant allele was associated with a decreased risk of RCC in a dose-response manner (Ptrend=0.009). In addition, we also observed that IL-13 C-1055T and Arg130Gln polymorphisms could decrease the risk of RCC [TT versus
Cc/ct: odds ratio=0.36, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.16-0.78; AA versus GG/GA: 0.66, 0.44-0.97, respectively]. Furthermore, a multiplicative interaction association between the combined IL-4R Ile50Val and IL-13 C-1055T genotypes was observed to decrease the risk of RCC (P=0.036).
Conclusion: IL-13 and IL-4R may play an important role in the etiology of RCC.