Role of interleukin 1β and interleukin 10 variants on ocular toxoplasmosis in Brazilian individuals

Abstract

Introduction: Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is an intraocular inflammation caused by Toxoplasma gondii infection that affects the retina and choroid, giving rise to posterior uveitis. Genetic polymorphisms in cytokine genes may exert influence in the expression of these molecules and play a significant role in inflammatory responses and susceptibility to OT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of polymorphisms rs16944 (–511 C > T) of the interleukin (IL) 1β gene and rs1800896 (–1082 G > A) of the IL10 gene on OT in Brazilian individuals with a serologic diagnosis of T. gondii and after conducting fundoscopic exams. Methods: Participants with a positive serology were classified into two distinct groups according to the presence (G1; n = 110) or absence (G2; n = 104) of OT. The control group (G3) consisted of individuals without the infection (n = 108). Results: It was observed that the C/C genotype of the IL1β gene polymorphism was a protective factor for OT (p = 0.02, OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08–0.78 for G1 vs. G2; p = 0.03; OR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.09–0.82 for G1 vs. G3), according to the recessive inheritance model. Conclusions: The -511C.T polymorphisms of the IL1β gene seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of OT in Brazilian individuals.