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Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms in male and female fertility and fecundity

Genes & Immunity volume 7, pages 688–692 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Interleukin-10 (IL10) is assumed beneficial for a successful pregnancy; it may increase fertility and fecundity. Allele frequencies of IL10 polymorphisms at position −2849, −1082 and −592 were analyzed in association with a past history of fertility and fecundity in men and women of at least 85 years old. Fertility was decreased in association with the −2849 A allele in females; 27% of the AA genotype carriers produced no offspring in marriage compared to 14% of the G allele carriers (odds ratio (OR): 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–4.2, P=0.01). Effective fecundability was decreased in association with the –2849 A allele in females; 7% of female −2849 AA genotype carriers had a child within 371 days of marriage (therefore, conceived within 3 months of marriage) compared to 28% of female G allele carriers (OR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.04–0.7, P=0.01). This suggests an association between the –2849 AA genotype and a decreased fertility and fecundity in females.

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Acknowledgements

We thank M Kuningas and BAS Kurreeman for their valuable help with the analysis at the haplotype level.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    F M van Dunné & F M Helmerhorst

  2. Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    A J M de Craen & R G J Westendorp

  3. Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    T W J Huizinga

Authors
  1. F M van Dunné
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  2. A J M de Craen
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  3. F M Helmerhorst
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  4. T W J Huizinga
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  5. R G J Westendorp
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Correspondence to F M van Dunné.

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van Dunné, F., de Craen, A., Helmerhorst, F. et al. Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms in male and female fertility and fecundity. Genes Immun 7, 688–692 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6364347

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gene.6364347

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