Interleukin-1Ra rs2234663 and Interleukin-4 rs79071878 Polymorphisms in Familial Mediterranean Fever

• There was no significant difference in IL-1Ra genotype between FMF.
• A significant association was observed between FMF and IL-4 polymorphism.
• The IL-4 rs79071878 polymorphism was associated with FMF risk in Turkish population.

ObjectiveFamilial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessively inherited auto inflammatory disorder. MEFV gene, causing FMF, encodes pyrin that is associated with the interleukin-1 (IL-1) related inflammation cascade. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) polymorphisms with the risk of FMF in the Turkish population.MethodsThis study included 160 patients with FMF (74 men, 86 women) and 120 healthy controls (50 men, 70 women), respectively. Genotyping of IL-1Ra rs2234663 polymorphism was evaluated by gel electrophoresis after polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The IL-4 rs79071878 polymorphism was determined by PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. The results of analyses were evaluated for statistical significance.ResultsThere was no significant difference in IL-1Ra genotype and allele distributions between FMF and the control groups (p > 0.05). However, a significant association was observed between FMF patients and control groups according to IL-4 genotype distribution (p = 0.016), but no association was found in the allelic frequency of IL-4 between FMF patients and the controls (p > 0.05, OR: 1.131, CI 95%: 0.71–1.81).ConclusionsThe IL-4 rs79071878 polymorphism, was associated whereas the IL-1Ra rs2234663 polymorphism was not associated with FMF risk in the Turkish population. Larger studies with different ethnicities are needed to determine the impact of IL-1Ra and IL-4 polymorphism on the risk of developing FMF.