Sanderson, Saskia C., Kumari, Meena, Brunner, Eric J., Miller, Michelle A., Rumley, Ann, Lowe, Gordon D., Marmot, Michael G. and Humphries, Steve E. (2009) Association between IL6 gene variants −174G>C and −572G>C and serum IL-6 levels : interactions with social position in the Whitehall II cohort. Atherosclerosis, Vol.204 (No.2). pp. 459-464. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.09.019

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Abstract

Objective
To examine the impact of −174G>C and −572G>C variants in the promoter region of the IL6 gene, and their interactions with social position, on interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in the Whitehall II cohort.

Methods and results
SNPs were genotyped by TaqMan. IL-6 was measured by ELISA. Employment grade was assessed to indicate social position. ANOVAs were used to examine genotype-phenotype associations. 4165 white men and women provided data on IL-6 levels at two study time points, Phase 3 (1991–1993) and Phase 7 (2002–2004). Distributions were as expected for Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. At Phase 3, overall IL-6 levels did not differ by either genotype, but −174C was associated with higher IL-6 levels within the lowest employment grades (pinteraction = 0.046). At Phase 7, IL-6 levels overall were 6% higher in −174C (p = 0.002) and 9% lower in −572C (p = 0.003) carriers. The lowering effect of −572C was not apparent in the lowest employment grades (pinteraction = 0.05).

Conclusions
IL-6 levels are determined in part by interaction between common functional IL6 gene variants and yet to be identified components of social position. These results highlight the importance of considering interactions between genes and social environments in future study designs.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Biomedical Sciences > Translational & Experimental Medicine > Metabolic and Vascular Health (- until July 2016) Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Journal or Publication Title:	Atherosclerosis
Publisher:	Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
ISSN:	0021-9150
Official Date:	June 2009
Dates:	Date Event June 2009 Published
Volume:	Vol.204
Number:	No.2
Page Range:	pp. 459-464
DOI:	10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2008.09.019
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Medical Research Council (Great Britain) (MRC), Great Britain. Dept. of Health (DoH), National Heart and Lung, and Blood Institute (HLBI), US National Institute of Ageing (USNIA), John D and Catherine T Mc Arthur Foundation, Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC), British Heart Foundation
Grant number:	Hl36310 (HLBI), AG13196 (USNIA), RG2005/014 (BHF)

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