Association between IL-18 and IL-6 gene polymorphisms and the risk of T1D in Egyptian children

Yasser B M Ali; Hend E El-Gahel; Nehal E Abdel-Hakem; Mahmoud E Gadalla; Mohamed H El-Hefnawy; Mohamed El-Shahat

doi:10.1007/s40200-021-00763-w

Association between IL-18 and IL-6 gene polymorphisms and the risk of T1D in Egyptian children

J Diabetes Metab Disord. 2021 Mar 8;20(1):439-446. doi: 10.1007/s40200-021-00763-w. eCollection 2021 Jun.

Authors

Yasser B M Ali¹, Hend E El-Gahel¹, Nehal E Abdel-Hakem¹, Mahmoud E Gadalla², Mohamed H El-Hefnawy³, Mohamed El-Shahat¹

Affiliations

¹ Molecular Biology Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
² MolecularDiagnostics Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute (GEBRI), University of Sadat City, Sadat City, Egypt.
³ Biochemistry and Pediatric Departments, National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE), Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Purpose: To test the involvement between IL-18 and IL-6 genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at positions -607A/C and - 137G/C in IL-18 promoter region were examined by sequence specific primers-polymerase chain reaction (SSP-PCR) and position -174G/C in promoter region of IL-6 gene which analyzed by Mutagenically Separated PCR (MS-PCR) in 104 T1D participants and 114 controls.

Results: IL-18 -137GC and -137CC genotypes and -137C allele were significantly decreased in T1D subjects (P < 0.05), while -137GG genotype was insignificantly increased as compared to controls. A significant decrease was detected in haplotype -137C/-607C frequency in T1D participants compared with controls (OR = 0.04, P < 0.001). There was significant association between IL-18 -607 of (CC, AC and AA genotypes) in age at diagnosis, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and higher body mass index (BMI) (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: This study demonstrated that IL-18 gene promoter polymorphisms might be associated with susceptibility to T1D in Egyptian children. Individuals carrying CC genotype at position -137 of IL-18 promoter may be at a low risk of T1D progression. Additionally, the susceptible combination of IL-18 and IL-6 cytokine genes associated with T1D highlight their risk toward the disease.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-021-00763-w.

Keywords: Children; IL-18; IL-6; Polymorphism; T1D.