Interleukin-1 Gene-511 CT Polymorphism and the Risk of Alzheimer's Disease in a Polish Population

Interleukin-1 is a potent proinflammatory cytokine involved in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We genotyped IL-1 beta (-511 C/T) and the apolipoprotein E (APOE) common polymorphisms in a large case-controlled study in a Polish population. We included 332 patients with late-onset AD and 220 controls without any neurological deficit, cognitive complaints and history of neurological diseases, aged >= 65 years. The distribution of the IL-1 beta (-511 C/T) genotypes was similar to that in the controls (AD: C/C = 45.8%, C/T = 44.6%, T/T = 9.6% vs. controls: C/C = 53.9%, C/T = 38.3%, T/T = 7.3%, p > 0.05). Our study confirms previous reports that APOE epsilon 4 is strongly related to the risk of AD (odds ratio = 6.60, 95% confidence interval 4.19-10.41). APOE status did not affect the distribution of the studied IL-1 beta polymorphism. The IL-1 beta (-511 C/T) polymorphism is not a risk factor for late-onset AD in a Polish population. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel