Absence of an association of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha G308A, interleukin-6 (IL-6) G174C and interleukin-10 (IL-10) G1082A polymorphism in women with preeclampsia

ObjectiveTNF-alpha G308A, IL-6 G174C and IL-10 G1082A polymorphisms have recently been associated with preeclampsia (PE). The aim of this study was to clarify whether the occurrence of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 polymorphisms is increased in women of our population with PE in a previous pregnancy.MethodsA retrospective, controlled, open, multicenter study was carried out in 107 women with a history of PE and 107 women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Smears from buccal gingival cells were analyzed for the polymorphisms of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-10 by hybridization on microarrays. Statistical significance was calculated by the chi-quadrant test.ResultsHeterozygocity for the gene polymorphisms did not occur more often in preeclamptic women compared with controls (TNF-alpha: 29.0% versus 24.3%, p > 0.05; IL-6: 46.7% versus 51.4%, p > 0.05; or IL-10: 49.5% in each). Moreover, there was no significant difference between preeclamptics and controls with regard to homozygocity for TNF alpha (1.9% versus 3.7%, p > 0.05); IL-6 (17.8% versus 13.1%, p > 0.05); and IL-10 (30.8% versus 32.7%, p > 0.05).ConclusionIn contrast to the findings of some other investigators, gene polymorphisms do not seem to be important in our population for development of PE.