Genetic regulation of cervical antiinflammatory cytokine concentrations during pregnancy.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the contribution of maternal genotype to the concentration of interleukin (IL)-4, -10, and -13 in the cervix during the first trimester in the context of bacterial vaginosis and cigarette smoking. In this prospective cohort of 116 pregnant women, we examined 72 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 6 genes: IL-4, IL-4 receptor, IL-10, IL-10 receptor alpha, IL-10 receptor beta, and IL-13. Among black women, an IL-10 receptor beta SNP (rs6517158) demonstrated significant association with IL-10 concentration (P = .04), adjusted for bacterial vaginosis. Among white women, there were 4 SNPs in IL-10 receptor alpha with a highly significant association with IL-10 concentration, adjusted for bacterial vaginosis and smoking. Our data demonstrate a significant relation between cervical concentrations of IL-10 and SNPs in the IL-10 receptor alpha and beta genes. The contribution of genotype to IL-10 concentration is significant, even in the consideration of bacterial vaginosis and smoking.