Objective: To explore the association between the -511C/T, -31T/C and +3954C/T polymorphisms of interleukin-1B (IL-1B) gene and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using the method of meta-analysis.
Methods: Comprehensive searches were performed of PubMed, Embase, Ovid, Wanfang and Chinese journal full-text database to retrieve the related case-control studies. The pooled odds ratios were performed respectively for allele comparison, additive genetic model, dominant genetic model and recessive genetic model and subgroup analysis was also performed by ethnicity.
Results: Seven case-control studies were included for meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that neither -511C/T, -31T/C nor +3954 C/T polymorphisms increased the susceptibility to COPD. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant risks were found in the Caucasian population for -511C/T T allele (OR = 1.76, 95%CI 1.22 - 2.54, P = 0.002), but not in the Asian population (OR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.64 - 1.38, P = 0.736). Significant risks were also found in the Caucasian population for -31T/C C allele (OR = 0.62, 95%CI 0.40 - 0.97, P = 0.035), but not in the Asian population (OR = 1.06, 95%CI 0.89 - 1.26, P = 0.533).
Conclusions: IL-1B polymorphisms may play a role in the susceptibility of COPD in an ethnicity-specific manner. In the Caucasian population, the risk of COPD was associated positively with the IL-1B -511C/T T allele and negatively with the IL-1B -31T/C C allele.