Genetic association of IL-21 polymorphisms with dilated cardiomyopathy in a Han Chinese population

Abstract

Background: Autoimmune abnormalities appear to be major predisposing factors for dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Interleukin-21 (IL-21) gene polymorphisms have been previously found to be associated with autoimmune diseases. This study aimed to assess the role of IL-21 in DCM in a Han Chinese population.

Patients and methods: A total of 364 independent DCM patients and 384 unrelated healthy controls were recruited for this case-control association study. rs2055979 and rs12508721 were genotyped by PCR-RFLP. IL-21 plasma levels in samples from DCM and control individuals were evaluated by ELISA. The association between the SNPs and overall survival (OS) was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Hazard ratios and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed in a Cox regression analysis with adjustment for sex and age.

Results: The T allele frequencies of both SNPs were higher in DCM patients than in controls (p < 0.001). The genotypic frequencies of rs2055979 G > T and rs12508721 C > T were associated with DCM in the codominant, dominant, and recessive models (p < 0.05). IL-21 plasma levels in patients were higher than those of the control subjects (p = 0.009). The TT genotypes of both SNPs were associated with significantly higher plasma levels (prs2055979 = 0.03, prs12508721 < 0.001). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the genotypic frequencies of both SNPs were associated with OS in the dominant and the recessive models (p < 0.001). The TT genotypes of both SNPs were associated with the worst OS (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that theIL-21 gene plays an important role in susceptibility to DCM as well as in the clinical outcome of this ailment in the Han Chinese population.