Association between -174 G/C polymorphism of interleukin-6 gene and alcoholism

• Published in: Acta neuropsychiatrica Vol. 15; no. 5; pp. 257 - 261
• Main Authors: Šerý, Omar, Hladilová, Renáta, Novotný, Miroslav, Hríbková, Hana, Znojil, Vladimír, Zvolský, Petr
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Cambridge University Press 01.10.2003; Munksgaard International Publishers
• Subjects: alcohol dependence; association; cytokine; IL-6; polymorphism; cytokine; association; polymorphism; alcohol dependence; IL-6
• ISSN: 0924-2708; 1601-5215
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1601-5215.2003.00040.x

Objectives:  IL‐6 plays the role as a physiological neuromodulator involved in dopaminergic, serotonergic and other neurotransmissions. The aim of the present association study was to examine the effect of the G/C ‐174 polymorphism of the IL‐6 gene on disposition to alcoholism. Methods:  We investigated the relationship between the G/C ‐174 polymorphism of the IL‐6 gene and alcohol dependence in 281 alcoholics and 242 control subjects. Results:  The significant difference in G allele frequency between alcoholic group (0.52) and control group (0.59) was found (P < 0.03). Conclusion:  To our knowledge, this is the first finding providing evidence for an association between alcoholism and the polymorphism of the IL‐6 gene. The background of the relationship between the IL‐6 gene and alcoholism is discussed.