L-18 Polymorphisms Impose Considerable Impacts on Acute Myeloid Leukemia Occurrence

Abstract Background: Interleukin 18 (IL-18), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, play multiple roles in immune and inflammatory responses. It also closely associates with the development and treatment of cancers. Present study was aimed to explore the effects of rs1946518 and rs187238 polymorphisms in promoter region of IL-18 gene for the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) susceptibility. Methods: Present case-control study recruited 128 AML patients and 145 healthy individuals. TaqMan assay method was used to sequence the IL-18 polymorphisms in all of the subjects. Serum concentration of IL-18 was detected by ELISA kit. Association between IL-18 polymorphisms and AML susceptibility was assessed by χ2 test. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were utilized to present the association strength.Results: G allele of rs1946518 distinctly associated with increased susceptibility of AML (P=0.045, OR=1.418, 95%CI=1.007-1.997). Higher frequency of rs187238 GG genotype in AML patients indicated that it significantly associated with enhanced AML susceptibility (P=0.017, OR=4.081, 95%CI=1.273-13.089). Meanwhile, positive association also has been discovered between rs187238 G allele and AML risk (P=0.001, OR=2.155, 95%CI=1.341-3.464). Besides, rs187238 GG genotype might obviously decrease the serum concentration of IL-18 in AML patients.Conclusions: Minor allele of IL-18 rs1946518 and rs187238 polymorphisms might positively associate with the AML susceptibility might via alter the IL-18 concentration.