Genetic Variants of Interleukin-8 and Interleukin-16 and Their Association with Cervical Cancer Risk

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Immunology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cervical cancer (CC) is a significant global health concern for women.
• High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a primary risk factor, but co-factors modulate disease progression.
• Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and Interleukin-16 (IL-16) are implicated in various cancers, with specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) potentially linked to cervical carcinogenesis in Asian populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between common IL-8 and IL-16 SNPs and cervical cancer risk in a European cohort.
• To explore potential differences in SNP associations based on menopausal status, disease stage, and histological subtype.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 126 CC patients and 213 controls of European descent.
• Genotyping of four IL-8 SNPs (rs4073, rs2227306, rs1126647, rs2227543) and four IL-16 SNPs (rs4778889, rs11556218, rs4072111, rs1131445) using RFLP-PCR.
• Analysis under seven inheritance models with subgroup stratification by menopausal status, disease stage, and histology.

Main Results:

• IL-16 rs4072111 (T allele) was associated with increased CC risk in premenopausal women.
• IL-16 rs4778889 was associated with CC risk in postmenopausal women (age > 51) under specific models.
• No significant association between the studied SNPs and overall CC risk was found in the entire cohort; IL-16 rs1131445 and IL-8 rs4073 showed no link to CC risk in this population.

Conclusions:

• Age and menopausal status are critical factors influencing the association between IL-16 SNPs and cervical cancer susceptibility.
• The role of IL-8 and IL-16 SNPs in cervical carcinogenesis may differ from their roles in other cancers and vary across ethnic groups.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex interplay of genetic factors, ethnicity, and cervical cancer development.