Interleukin-17A and -17F genes polymorphisms in lung cancer

• We explore the association of IL-17F and IL-17A polymorphisms with lung cancer.
• An association between IL-17F polymorphisms and lung cancer is proposed.
• The IL-17F 7488G allele is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer.

Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a proinflammatory cytokines produced by T helper 17 (Th17) cells, which plays an important role in both innate and adaptive immune systems. Genetic variants in the IL-17 genes may influence the immunopathogenesis of many cancers. In our study, we investigated the association of three single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: -152 G/A, 7488 A/G and 7383 A/G) in the IL-17A and IL-17F genes with lung cancer risk, in the Tunisian population. The genotypic and allelic distributions of IL-17A and IL-17F genes polymorphisms were analyzed by Polymerase Chain-Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) for 239 patients and 258 healthy controls. Our results revealed a statistically significant association between IL-17F 7488G allele and increased lung cancer risk (P = 0.028). Stratification analysis indicated that IL-17F 7488G allele enhances the risk of lung cancer development among men and oldest age subject groups (P < 0.05). Patients with IL-17F 7488G allele were also more likely to be diagnosed at advanced stage (P = 0.04), or with metastatic lung cancer (P = 0.035). Furthermore, no significant association between IL-17F 7383 A/G, IL-17 -152G/A polymorphisms and lung cancer risk was observed (P > 0.05). However, we reported contradictory findings on the association of IL-17 -152 G/A polymorphisms with lung cancer risk. In addition, we suggested the existence of a biological interaction between IL-17A, but not IL-17F polymorphisms and smoking. Our findings suggest that IL-17F 7488G allele is associated with increased lung cancer risk in the Tunisian population.