The aim of this study was to determine whether the interleukin (IL)-6 -174 single nucleotide polymorphism confers susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) in multiple ethnic populations.
A meta-analysis was conducted on the association between the IL-6 -174 polymorphism and RA/T1D susceptibility, using fixed and random effects models.
Thirteen studies were included in the meta-analysis: RA: seven studies, including six European and one Asian population; T1D: six studies, including five European and one South American population. There was no significant association both in allele and genotype comparisons between the IL-6 -174 polymorphism and RA/T1D in all study subjects. Moreover, meta-analysis stratified by ethnicity indicated no significant association between the gene and RA/T1D.
This meta-analysis suggests that the IL-6 -174 polymorphism might not confer susceptibility to RA/T1D.