Interleukin 10 gene promoter polymorphisms in women with early‐onset pre‐eclampsia

Summary Pre‐eclampsia is one of the most serious disorders of human pregnancy and T helper type 1 ( Th 1)/ Th 2 imbalance plays a major role in its aetiology. The Th 2 cytokine, interleukin ( IL )‐10, plays a significant role in the maintenance of pregnancy. The present study is aimed at understanding the role of IL ‐10 promoter polymorphisms (−1082 G / A ; −592 A / C and −819 C / T ) and their haplotypes in early‐onset pre‐eclampsia. A total of 120 patients and an equal number of women with normal pregnancy, from G overnment M aternity H ospital, P etlaburz, H yderabad, I ndia, were considered for the present study. A standard amplification refractory mutation system–polymerase chain reaction ( ARMS–PCR ) was carried out for genotyping followed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Appropriate statistical methods were applied to test for the significance of the results. It was found that the IL ‐10 −819 C allele ( P  = 0·003) and −592 A ( P  = 0·005) allele frequencies increased significantly in patients compared to controls. No significant difference was found with regard to −1082 promoter polymorphism. Haplotype analysis of the IL ‐10 single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs ) revealed a significant association with ACC haplotype with a twofold increased risk in patients compared to controls. The frequencies of two common IL ‐10 haplotypes ( GCC and ATA ) did not show any significant difference. Further, the diplotype analysis revealed five genotypes: −1082 A with −819 C ( P  = 0·0016); −1082 G with −819 C ( P  = 0·0018); −819 C with −592 C ( P  = 0·001); −1082 A with −592 C ( P  = 0·032); and −1082 G with −592 C ( P  = 0·005) associated with the disease. These findings support the concept of contribution of IL ‐10 gene polymorphisms in the pathogenesis of early‐onset pre‐eclampsia.