Polymorphisms of the IL1-Receptor Antagonist Gene (IL1RN) Are Associated With Multiple Markers of Systemic Inflammation

Abstract

Background—Circulating levels of acute phase reactant proteins such as plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) are likely influenced by multiple genes regulating the innate immune response.Methods and Results—We screened a set of 16 inflammation-related genes for association with CRP in a large population-based study of healthy young adults (n=1627). Results were validated in 2 independent studies (n=1208 and n=4310), including a pooled analysis of all 3 studies. In the pooled analysis, the minor allele ofIL1RN1018 (rs4251961) within the gene encoding interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) was significantly associated with higher mean plasma log(CRP) level (P−4). The sameIL1RN1018 allele was associated with higher mean plasma log(IL-6) levels (P=0.004). In the pooled analysis, the minor allele ofIL1RN13888 (rs2232354) was associated with higher fibrinogen, (P=0.001). TheIL1RN1018 and 13888 variant alleles tag a clade ofIL1RNhaplotypes linked to allele 1 of an 86-bp VNTR polymorphism. We confirmed that theIL1RN1018 variant (rs4251961) was associated with decreased cellular IL-1RA production ex vivo.Conclusions—Common functional polymorphisms of theIL1RNgene are associated with several markers of systemic inflammation.