Background: Cytokine genes, including interleukin-10 (IL-10), are known to play important roles in the pathogenesis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This study aims to determine whether the IL-10 polymorphisms confer susceptibility to JIA.
Methods: A meta-analysis was performed on the associations between the IL-10 -1082 G/A, -592 C/A, and -819 C/T polymorphisms and JIA. A total number of 7 studies involving 1,785 patients and 6,142 controls were considered in the meta-analysis.
Results: Meta-analysis of the IL-10 -592 C/A and -819 C/T polymorphisms showed no association with JIA in the study participants, or in Caucasian or Middle Eastern participants. Meta-analysis of the IL-10 -1082 A allele in all study participants, Caucasian and Middle Eastern, showed significant associations with RA (overall ORs were 1.17, 1.15, and 1.41, respectively). Meta-analysis of the AA versus GG genotype of the IL-10 -1082 G/A polymorphism revealed significant associations with JIA (OR = 3.66, 95% CI = 1.44-9.29, P = 0.006) in participants from Middle Eastern countries. Additionally, meta-analysis of the GG versus AA+GA genotypes of the IL-10 -1082 G/A polymorphism revealed the GG genotype as the protective factor against JIA in the Middle Eastern subgroup (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.20-0.94, P = 0,04). Moreover, meta-analysis of the IL-10 -1082 A allele in 4 studies on Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium showed a significant association with JIA (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.07-1.28, P = 0.0009). No association was found between the IL-10 (-1082, -819, -592) ACC, ATA, and GCC haplotypes and JIA.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the IL-10 -1082 G/A polymorphism confers susceptibility to JIA.
Keywords: interleukin-10; juvenile idiopathic arthritis; meta-analysis; polymorphism.