Recipient IL-6-572C/G genotype is associated with reduced incidence of acute rejection following liver transplantation

Objective: Acute rejection resulting from alloimmune responses is a major risk factor affecting patient survival following liver transplantation. Since interleukin (IL)-6 can mediate acute rejection, the association between IL-6 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and incidence of acute rejection in liver transplant recipients was investigated. Methods: Patients who received liver transplant between January 2005 and December 2010 were typed for IL6-572C/G (rs1800796) polymorphisms using the snapshot technique. Association between genotype and acute rejection was analysed using the SNP Statistics website: http://bioinfo.iconcologia.net/snpstats/start.htm. Allelic and genotypic distributions for rs1800796 were compared among 335 patients with or without acute rejection within the first 6 months following liver transplant. Results: Incidence of acute rejection was 11.94%. A heterozygous CG genotype for IL6-572C/G was associated with a lower acute rejection rate compared with homozygous CC or GG genotypes. Conclusion: IL6-572 CG genotype may be related to protection from acute rejection following liver transplant in Han Chinese patients.