{
  "abstract": "Introduction Systemic sclerosis is an systemic autoimmune disease mediated by IL-6 and some patients may develop interstitial lung disease. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between IL-6 polymorphisms (genotype) and pulmonary manifestations of the systemic sclerosis (phenotype). We determined the IL-6 polymorphisms (rs1800795, rs2228145, rs12700386) and investigated if there are differences between the group of patients with interstitial lung disease and the group without it and the group of patients who have milder or more severe form of lung parenchymal involvement.Material and Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 105 patients with systemic sclerosis whose disease had lasted for at least five years.Results In the investigated patient cohort, no statistically significant difference was found in the prevalence of IL-6 polymorphisms (rs1800795, rs2228145, rs12700386) among subjects with systemic sclerosis (disease duration more then 5 years) and lung involvement (interstitial lung disease). This involvement was defined by structural changes visible on lung CT scans and abnormal pulmonary function test values. Grouping and combining the polymorphisms rs1800795, rs2228145, and rs12700386 also did not affect the observed parameters.More specific, according to our research data, the GG allele of the rs1800795 polymorphism, the CC allele of the rs2228145 polymorphism, and the CC allele of the rs12700386 polymorphism of IL-6 do not influence the presence or severity of interstitial lung disease in patients with systemic sclerosis. Grouping and combining these polymorphisms (rs1800795, rs2228145, and rs12700386) also did not result in statistically significant differences in the studied parameters.Conclusions No statistically significant association was found between the studied polymorphisms and interstitial lung disease. Despite the negative and inconsistent results of previously published studies and our data, IL-6 remains an important cytokine and therapeutic target in patients with systemic sclerosis. Its levels and activity are influenced by other mechanisms, independent of those studied in this research, with a need to emphasize epigenetic factors and other genetic variants (polymorphisms).",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia"
      ],
      "name": "Marko Baresic"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia"
      ],
      "name": "Boris Karanovic"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia"
      ],
      "name": "Miroslav Mayer"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia"
      ],
      "name": "Branimir Anic"
    }
  ],
  "title": "P.122 Correlation between IL-6 polymorphisms and the presence and severity of ILD in patients with systemic sclerosis",
  "uid": "4f413382-11bf-592e-bdc8-4d1209e0b3cc"
}