Background: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) is an age-related degenerative disease, presenting with low back pain or radicular pain. The inflammatory changes would occur in discs in the process of IVDD. Therefore, the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, as well as their respective genes, have been proposed to play roles in pathophysiology of disease. This study has been conducted to elucidate the role of IL-2, IL-12, and IFN-γ single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in this disease.
Method: Seventy-six patients who were diagnosed with IVDD and 140 healthy controls who complied with eligibility criteria were included. A total volume of 5 cc peripheral blood was obtained from each participant to investigate the IL-2 + 166G/T, IL-2 -330G/T, IL-12 - 1188A/C, and IFN-γ +847A/T SNPs through PCR-SSP method.
Results: The 'TG' and 'TT' genotypes of IL-2 - 330G/T polymorphism were significantly more common among patients and healthy controls respectively. The 'GT' and 'TT' haplotypes of IL-2 (comprised of -330G/T, and + 166G/T SNPs) were also more common among patients and controls respectively.
Conclusion: This study indicated the significant role of IL-2 genotypes and haplotypes in IVDD. These SNPs were differently distributed in patients and controls. Therefore, alteration in the structure of IL-2 gene could play an important role in pathophysiology of IVDD.
Keywords: Cytokine; Immunogenetics; Interferon γ; Interleukin 12; Interleukin 2; Intervertebral disc degeneration; Single nucleotide polymorphism.