Lack of association of genetic polymorphisms in the interleukin-1β, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 genes with mitral valve prolapse in Taiwan Chinese

Background and aims of the study: Inflammation and genetics may play a role in the pathogenesis of mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The study aim was to test whether interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), IL-4 or IL-10 gene polymorphisms could be used as markers of susceptibility or severity in MVP among the Chinese population in Taiwan. Methods: A group of 100 patients with MVP diagnosed echocardiographically, and 103 age- and sex-matched normal control subjects was studied. IL-1beta promoter, IL-1beta exon 5, IL-1Ra, IL-4 promoter, IL-4 intron 3 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms were identified by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis. Results: There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotypes and allelic frequencies between MVP cases and controls for IL-1beta promoter, IL-1beta exon 5, IL-1Ra, IL-4 promoter, IL-4 intron 3 and IL-10 gene polymorphisms. Further categorization of MVP patients into mild and severe subgroups also revealed no statistical difference in these gene polymorphisms when compared with controls. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the IL-1beta, IL-1Ra, IL-4 or IL-10 gene polymorphisms are not suitable genetic markers of MVP in Taiwan Chinese.