Is there any relation between IL-6 gene-174 G>C polymorphism and postmenopausal osteoporosis?

Objective: IL-6 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been reported to have a protective effect against bone resorption. We aimed to investigate the association between bone mineral density and IL-6 promoter region -174 G>C SNP. Study design: This study included 356 postmenopausal Turkish women, of whom 201 were osteoporotic (lumbar spine T score < -2.5 SD) and 155 non-osteoporotic (lumbar spine T score > -1.5 SD). Bone mineral density (BMD) measures were obtained using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. SNP of the IL-6 gene (-174 G>C) was examined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results: The frequencies of the variant C allele (24% vs. 30%, p = 0.074) and mutant CC genotype (12% vs. 20%, p = 0.094) were higher in non-osteoporotic women. Lumbar spine and total hip BMD values were lowest among women with the GIG genotype, intermediate in the heterozygotes, and highest in women with the C/C genotype. The GG (p = 0.022) and GC (p = 0.037) genotypes were covariates which approached statistical significance in the regression model fitting of BMD. Conclusion: IL-6 promoter region SNP showed an association with BMD in this postmenopausal Turkish population and these data suggest that the wild GG genotype influences the phenotype. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.