Associations between interleukin 1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus: A meta-analysis

Objective: This study determined whether interleukin 1 (IL1) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the IL1A, IL1B, and IL1 receptor antagonist (IL1RN) polymorphisms and SLE. Results: A total of 15 studies involving 1956 SLE cases and 2347 controls were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed an association between SLE and the IL1A -889 T allele in the overall population and Europeans (OR=0.858, 95% CI=0.737-0.986, p=0.032; OR=0.827, 95% CI=0.687-0.994, p=0.043). Meta-analysis of the IL1RN polymorphism revealed an association with SLE in all study subjects (OR for IL1RN^*2=1.539, 95% CI=1.266-1.871, p=1.5×10^-2) and in Europeans and Asians (OR=1.483, 95% CI=1.187-1.852, p=0.001; OR=1.787, 95% CI=1.167-2.736, p=0.008). No associations were found between SLE and the IL1B -511 C/T, 3953 C/T, and IL1A +4845 G/T polymorphisms. Conclusions: This meta-analysis suggests IL1A -889 C/T polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to SLE in Europeans, and that the IL1RN^*2 allele is associated with susceptibility to SLE in Europeans and Asians.