Association of IL-4 and IL-1 Receptor Antagonist (IL-1Ra) Gene Polymorphisms and the Risk of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES The genetic and cellular processes involved in aetiopathology of BPH are unknown. Though there is growing evidence of BPH as immune-mediated diseases distinct from prostate cancer, still cytokine gene polymorphisms associated with risk of BPH are less explored. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic association of polymorphisms of important cytokine genes (IL-4 and IL-1Ra) with risk of BPH in a case-control study of North Indian population. METHODS The IL-4 and IL-1Ra gene polymorphism were genotyped with VNTR-PCR in 150 BPH patients and normal healthy controls. Based on their response to combined therapy of α-adrenergic inhibitor + 5-α-reductase inhibitor, patients were grouped as responder and non-responder. Genotype distribution and allelic frequencies between patients and controls were compared and odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using SPSS software (version-11.5) RESULTS The difference of genotype frequency distribution for both IL-4 and IL-1Ra gene polymorphism between BPH and control group were found to be statistically significant (p<0.05). Significant difference (p<0.05) was also observed between responder and non-responder groups in IL-4 gene variants. CONCLUSIONS IL-4 and IL-1Ra gene polymorphisms are associated with the risk of BPH. This study for the first time demonstrates association of IL-4 polymorphism with BPH, particularly influences therapeutic response of the patients.