Objective: To investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cytokine IL-6, IL-10 genes and HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods: A hospital-based case-control study was conducted in 381 cases with HBV-related HCC, 340 HBsAg carriers and 359 non-tumor controls. Genotypes of -572 site of IL-6 gene and -819, -592 sites of IL-10 gene were determined by real-time polymorphism chain reaction. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95 confidence intervals (CIs).
Results: For the G/C alleles of -572 loci on IL-6 gene, there were significant differences between the three groups (P < 0.05). Compared with CC genotype, GG genotype increased the risk of HBV infection (OR = 2.171, 95%CI: 1.068 - 4.415), but did not seem to be associated with HCC. For the alleles of -819 and -592 site of IL-10 gene, there were significant differences between the three groups (P < 0.05). Compared with CC genotype, TT genotype increased the risks of both HCC (OR = 2.791, 95%CI: 1.326 - 5.874), and HCC in HBsAg carriers (OR = 3.522, 95%CI: 1.707 - 7.266). When compared with CC genotype on -592 site, the AA genotype reduced the risk of both HCC (OR = 0.389, 95%CI: 0.173 - 0.875), and HCC in HBsAg carriers (OR = 0.336, 95%CI: 0.154 - 0.734).
Conclusion: The SNPs in -572 site of IL-6 gene might be associated with the risk of HBV infection. The SNPs in -819 site of IL-10 gene increased the risk of HCC, but -592 site of IL-10 gene decreased the risk of HCC.