Relationship between IL-6 and IL-10 Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Pneumonia and Serum Levels of IL-6, IL-10, and C-Reactive Protein in Children

Abstract

Background: Cytokines are molecules that play a crucial role in the development of childhood pneumonia. This study aims to investigate the relationship between gene polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10 and the susceptibility to childhood pneumonia. Methods: A total of 200 child patients with pneumonia and 200 healthy children were assigned to the disease group and control group, respectively. Peripheral blood was collected from both groups, and the polymorphisms were analyzed by sequencing. Additionally, the serum levels of IL-6, IL-10, and C-reactive protein were analyzed. Results: The frequencies of certain alleles and genotypes of IL-6 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms were found to be higher in the disease group compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Specifically, the allele C of IL-6 gene polymorphism rs762371056, allele A of IL-6 gene polymorphism rs762759043, and allele A of IL-10 gene polymorphism rs570186303 were more frequent in the disease group. Additionally, the disease group exhibited higher frequencies of genotype CC of rs762371056, genotype AA of polymorphism rs762759043, and genotype AA of rs570186303 (p < 0.05). The two groups also differed in the distributions of the dominant model of rs762759043 and the recessive model of rs570186303 (p < 0.05). Besides, there were differences in the distributions of haplotype CA of rs762371056 and rs762759043 and haplotypes AA, AG and GG of rs570186303 and rs575853731 between the two groups (p < 0.05). Child patients with genotype TC had higher levels of serum IL-6, while the levels of serum IL-10 were lower in child patients carrying genotype AA. Child patients with genotype AA had a distinctly higher level of serum C-reactive protein (p < 0.05). Conclusions: IL-6 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms have been found to be correlated with susceptibility to childhood pneumonia.