Genetic polymorphisms and cytokine levels in ischemic stroke: associations with subtypes and prognosis

Some genetic polymorphisms are associated with the risk of stroke, although the individual contribution of such polymorphisms is considered modest.

To evaluate the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines and coagulation factors in stroke patients, the relationships between the serum levels of the cytokines analyzed with stroke subtypes and prognosis.

A retrospective, cross-sectional, observational, analytical, case-control study. We performed genetic analysis to evaluate various genetic polymorphisms and analyzed cytokine levels at admission.

429 patients with ischemic stroke and 195 control subjects without ischemic stroke. Patients with CEI subtype showed significantly higher levels of all the cytokines analyzed, namely, IL-10, TNF-alpha, and IL-6. Logistic regression analysis revealed that higher TNF-α (alpha), IL-6, and IL-1 β levels were significantly associated with the LAAS and CEI subtypes. TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients with recurrent stroke at follow-up. Of the three polymorphisms in the gene encoding PTSG2, the haplotypes rs6275 and rs20417 showed a different distribution between patients and controls.

The reported association between ischemic stroke and immunoinflammatory variables agrees with previously reported associations between some proinflammatory and prothrombotic polymorphisms and the risk of ischemic stroke.