Carcinogenesis Advance Access originally published online on December 10, 2008
Carcinogenesis 2009 30(2):295-299; doi:10.1093/carcin/bgn281
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The association of interleukin-16 polymorphisms with IL-16 serum levels and risk of colorectal and gastric cancer
Department of Forensic Biology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
1 Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
2 Department of Immunology, West China School of Preclinical and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
3 Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
4 Department of Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, People's Republic of China
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +86 28 85469033; Fax: +86 28 85405541; Email: zhanglin{at}scu.edu.cn
Interleukin (IL)-16, a multifunctional cytokine, plays a fundamental role in inflammatory diseases, as well as in the development and progression of tumors. Genetic variation in the DNA sequence of the IL-16 gene may lead to altered cytokine production and/or activity, and this variation may modulate an individual's susceptibility to both colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC). To test this hypothesis, we investigated the association of IL-16 gene polymorphisms with serum levels of IL-16 and the risk of CRC and GC in a Chinese population. We analyzed single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the IL-16 gene in 596 cancer patients (376 patients with CRC and 220 patients with GC), and also in 480 age- and sex-matched controls using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing methods. Serum IL-16 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The rs11556218 T/G polymorphism of the IL-16 gene was significantly associated with the susceptibility to CRC and GC patients. Both male and female patients carrying the G allele had a significantly higher risk for developing CRC and GC compared with individuals carrying the T allele. Alternatively, women carrying the T allele (rs4072111 C/T) showed a decreased risk for CRC and GC compared with individuals carrying the C allele. In patients with CRC or GC, IL-16 serum levels were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls, although no significant association between IL-16 polymorphisms and serum levels of IL-16 was observed. Our data indicate that IL-16 polymorphisms may contribute to CRC and GC susceptibility.
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CRC, colorectal cancer; GC, gastric cancer; IL, interleukin; OR, odds ratio; SNP, single-nucleotide polymorphism
These authors contributed equally to this work. Received September 12, 2008; revised November 16, 2008; accepted December 6, 2008.