Association between IL18 gene polymorphisms and the release of interleukin-18 from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Abstract

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in the regulation of innate and acquired immune response and plays a key role in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Recently it was shown that IL-18 expression is regulated by the IL18 gene promoter. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between five polymorphisms in the IL18 gene (rs1946518, rs187238, rs360722, rs360721, rs5744292) and the release of IL-18 from stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The study was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 62 healthy subjects; the cells were stimulated with PHA, LPS, or anti-CD3/ CD28 antibodies. There were no statistically significant associations between the studied polymorphisms and IL-18 concentration, whereas some genotypes were associated with increased release of this cytokine. These results suggest that the studied polymorphisms of the IL18 gene are not significantly associated with IL-18 production in stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells. © 2012 American Scientific Publishers.