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Maternal interleukin-6 (−174) C/C polymorphism is associated with chorioamnionitis and cystic periventricular leucomalacia of the preterm infant

Journal of Perinatology volume 30, pages 712–716 (2010)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the association between maternal interleukin (IL)-6 G(−174)C polymorphism and cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL) of the preterm newborn.

Study Design:

After searching a local database, we recruited 132 preterm infants with diagnosis of cPVL, 44 Caucasian mothers were also recruited to participate in this candidate gene-association study at a single teritary care center. Data related to maternal IL-6 G(−174)C polymorphisms were compared with 41 controls, and furthermore compared with data from umbilical cord blood samples from a consecutive birth cohort of 395 healthy newborns, and published data from Caucasian populations including 1104 adults, respectively. In addition, subgroup analysis was performed in cases with either history of preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM) or clinical chorioamnionitis (CCA). IL-6 genotyping was performed using an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction technique.

Result:

Frequencies of the IL-6 G(−174)C polymorphisms did not differ between cases (GG, 29.5%; GC, 54.5% and CC, 15.9%) and controls (GG, 34.2; GC, 51.2 and CC, 14.6%). Subgroup analysis of 31 cases with history of PPROM (GG, 25.8; GC, 54.8 and CC 19.4%) and controls did not reveal significant differences, but a significantly higher frequency of the CC genotype was found in 23 cases with a history of CCA (34.8%) compared with controls by either univariate (P=0.032; odds ratio 3.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11 to 8.68) or multivariate analysis (P=0.049, odds ratio 2.54, 95% CI 1.01 to 6.45). These data were confirmed by a comparing the CC genotype frequency to 395 term controls (CC 14.7%, P=0.005) and to the mean CC genotype frequency of 1104 Caucasian adults (CC 15.6%, P<0.0001).

Conclusion:

Frequencies of the IL-6 G(−174)C polymorphisms did not differ between groups. Subgroup analysis revealed an association of the CC genotype with CCA and cPVL in the preterm newborn.

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Acknowledgements

The study was supported by scholarships from the Medical University of Graz and the Erich-Lackner-Stiftung.

Contribution to authorship: BR und AR planned and performed the study and are mainly responsible for the paper; IL-6 genotyping was performed and procedures have been described for the Methods section by CM and BH; AB, WZ, WW and BP contributed data of the term newborns control group; WW and BP added significantly to the writing and discussion of the paper; JH did the statistical analyses and WM was the supervisor of the study (senior author). The study was approved by the local ethics committee (number 16-049 ex 04/05).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Research Unit for Neonatal Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    B Resch, A Radinger & W D Müller

  2. Department of Medical and Chemical Laboratory Diagnostics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    C Mannhalter & B Horvath

  3. Division of General Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    A Binder & W Zenz

  4. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    W Walcher & B Pertl

  5. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Medical Statistics, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

    J Haas

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  1. B Resch
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  2. A Radinger
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  8. J Haas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to B Resch.

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

The study was presented, in part, at the Meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Research in Prague in October 2007 (oral presentation).

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Resch, B., Radinger, A., Mannhalter, C. et al. Maternal interleukin-6 (−174) C/C polymorphism is associated with chorioamnionitis and cystic periventricular leucomalacia of the preterm infant. J Perinatol 30, 712–716 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2010.30

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