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Interleukin‐6 −174 G/C Promoter Polymorphism is Associated with Persistence of Chlamydia pneumoniae Antibodies in Young Men
Author(s) -
Rantala A.,
Lajunen T.,
Juvonen R.,
Paldanius M.,
SilvennoinenKassinen S.,
Peitso A.,
Vainio O.,
Lein M.,
Saikku P.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.934
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3083
pISSN - 0300-9475
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-3083.2011.02542.x
Subject(s) - chlamydia , immunology , antibody , persistence (discontinuity) , allele , gene polymorphism , inflammation , interleukin 6 , biology , medicine , gene , genetics , geotechnical engineering , engineering
A promoter polymorphism −174 G/C in the inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) gene has been associated with differences in serum IL‐6 levels and a risk for inflammatory conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases. We investigated whether this polymorphism is associated with Chlamydia pneumoniae , a common causative agent of respiratory infection with tendency for persistent infections, in 867 Finnish military recruits. IgG seropositivity in arrival and departure serum samples during 6–12 months of military service was considered as persistence of antibodies and a possible prolonged or chronic infection. The −174C allele was significantly associated with IgG seropositivity ( P = 0.0002) and the persistence of IgG antibodies ( P = 0.0002) as well as with slightly elevated C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels ( P = 0.003). In addition, the association was stronger when persistent C. pneumoniae antibodies were present together with elevated CRP than when either of them was positive alone (OR; 95% CI: 3.45; 2.00–5.98 and 1.41; 1.00–1.99, respectively). Our data suggest that IL‐6 −174 G/C polymorphism is associated with persistence of C. pneumoniae antibodies and may be linked to the chronic or prolonged infection with systemic low‐grade inflammation.