IL1β, IL6 and IL8 gene polymorphisms involvement in recurrent corneal erosion in patients with hereditary stromal corneal dystrophies

TGFBI gene mutations cause corneal stromal dystrophies of autosomal dominant inheritance. The most frequent complication of stromal dystrophies is recurrent corneal erosion with varying degree of accompanying inflammation. IL-1, IL-6 and IL-8 are main cytokines involved in corneal erosion healing. This study aimed to investigate the association between IL1B gene -511C/T, IL6 gene -174G/C and IL8 gene -781C/T polymorphisms and risk of recurrent erosion development in patients with hereditary corneal stromal dystrophies. A trend to decrease of IL1B gene -511TT genotype frequency in group with erosion (3.7%) comparing to control (6.7%) was observed. IL6 gene -174C allele carriers frequency in control group (65.9%) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower comparing to patients with erosion (80.5%). Frequency of IL8 -781TT genotype was significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the group with erosion (10.7%) comparing to patients without erosion (30.8%) and control (25%). IL6 gene -174C allele may be considered as genetic marker of corneal erosion risk in patients with hereditary stromal corneal dystrophies, whereas IL8 -781TT genotype is associated with negative recurrent erosion prognosis in such patients.