(Journal Article): The C-174G promoter polymorphism of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene that affects insulin sensitivity in Caucasians is not involved in the pathogenesis of Taiwanese type 2 diabetes mellitus
 
Chang YH, Huang CN, Shiau MY (School of Medical Technology, Chung Shan Medical University Department of Internal Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University-Hospital Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hung Kuang University, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China)
 
IN: Eur Cytokine Netw 2004; 15(2):117-119
Impact Factor(s) of Eur Cytokine Netw: 1.747 (2004), 2.153 (2002), 1.677 (2001)

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ABSTRACT: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine which regulates the immune response, the acute-phase response, hematopoiesis and body energy balance. Genetic polymorphism at -174 position of IL-6 promoter has been recently reported to be linked with insulin resistance, however, with conflicting results. The C allele at IL-6 -174 position is associated with increased insulin sensitivity, and has a protective role for the development of type 2 diabetes, in a Spanish study. Whereas, according to a Finnish study, it is correlated with lower insulin sensitivity and may encourage the development of type 2 diabetes. Ethnic differences play certain roles in the distribution of IL-6 promoter polymorphisms because the distribution of the IL-6 -174 C allele is diverse among study subjects with different racial origins. Therefore, we examined IL-6 C-174G polymorphism in Taiwanese type 2 diabetic subjects to clarify the relationship of this polymorphism with Taiwanese type 2 diabetes mellitus in the context of the aforementioned mentioned contradictory results. All of our 101, type 2 diabetic patients and 112, non-diabetic, healthy individuals carried homologous G alleles. No C allele was found. Our study suggested that the C allele at the IL-6 -174 position was rare in Taiwanese people. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that IL-6 C-174G polymorphism is unlikely to play a role in the development of Taiwanese type 2 diabetes, regardless of its protective or promoting role.