Association of cytokine gene polymorphisms in CWP and its severity in Turkish coal workers

Background Cytokines appear to play a key role in some inflammatory reactions affecting the interactions among pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms that result in several diseases such as coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP). In this study, to determine the cytokine gene profiles of Turkish coal miners, we performed genotyping analysis to investigate the polymorphisms of CWP-related pro-inflanunatory (TNFA, IL1A, IL1B, and IL6) and anti- inflammatory cytokines (IL-1RN and TGFB1). An additional goal was to observe whether these cytokine gene polymorphisms influence the development risk and severity of. Methods Genotyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Results TNFA (-238) gene polymorphism principally affected CWP development and severity (OR=3.47: 95% CI, 1.12-10.77 and OR=4.30: 95% CI, 1.25-14.74, respectively) and also risk of CWP (OR=3.79: 95% CI, 1.37-10.46). The TNFA (-308) variant was associated with a risk for the CWP severity (OR = 2.84: 95% CI, 1.08-7.39). A protective effect of IL6 was found on the development (OR = 0.48: 95% CI, 0.21-0.93) and severity of CWP (OR = 0.37: 95% CI, 0.15-0.91). Conclusions We suggest that TNFA (-238) variant may be a risk factor in both development and the severity of CWP while TNFA (-308) variant seems to be important only in disease severity On the other hand, IL6 variant may have a protective effect oil the development and disease severity.