Association of interleukin-13 SNP rs20541 with allergic rhinitis risk: a meta-analysis

Studies investigating the association between interleukin-13 (IL-13) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs20541 and allergic rhinitis (AR) risk have reported conflicting results. The aim of the present study was to conduct a meta-analysis assessing the possible association of IL-13 SNP rs20541 with AR risk. Eight studies were included in the present meta-analysis (2153 cases and 3931 controls). The combined results based on all studies showed that IL-13 SNP rs20541 was associated with increased AR risk (Gln versus Arg: odds ratio (OR)=1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.08-1.30; Gln/Gln versus Arg/Arg: OR=1.52, 95% CI=1.20-1.92; Arg/Gln+Gln/Gln versus Arg/Arg: OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.06-1.33; Gln/Gln versus Arg/Gln+Arg/Arg: OR=1.42, 95% CI=1.13-1.79). When stratifying for race, IL-13 SNP rs20541 exhibited increased AR risk in Asians (Gln versus Arg: OR=1.20, 95% CI=1.06-1.36; Gln/Gln versus Arg/Arg: OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.17-2.12; Arg/Gln+Gln/Gln versus Arg/Arg: OR=1.22, 95% CI=1.04-1.44; Gln/Gln versus Arg/Gln+Arg/Arg: OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.09-1.93), while no significant association was detected in Caucasians (Gln versus Arg: OR=1.28, 95% CI=0.93~1.78; Gln/Gln versus Arg/Arg: OR=1.42, 95% CI=0.96-2.11; Arg/Gln+Gln/Gln versus Arg/Arg: OR=1.35, 95% CI=0.89-2.05; Gln/Gln versus Arg/Gln+Arg/Arg: OR=1.37, 95% CI=0.93-2.02). This meta-analysis supported that IL-13 SNP rs20541 was associated with AR, particularly in Asians.