Genetic Association of Interleukin 16 Gene Polymorphisms (rs11556218 & rs4778889) with Type 1 Diabetes in Egyptian Children: A Case-Control Study

ABSTRACT

Background

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a serious chronic autoimmune condition. Even though the underlying reason for the onset of T1D is unknown, due to their effector and regulatory roles in immune responses, cytokines are essential in developing autoimmune disorders. Interleukin (IL)16 is an immunomodulatory cytokine implicated in several inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.

Objective

This study was designed to examine the association of IL16 gene polymorphisms, rs11556218 T > G and rs4778889 T > C, with the risk of T1D in Egyptian children.

Methods

Using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay, we analyzed rs11556218 T > G and rs4778889 T > C polymorphisms of the IL16 gene in 100 T1D subjects and 93 controls.

Results

Rs11556218 T > G polymorphism of the IL16 gene was not associated with the risk of developing T1D. Analysis of IL16 gene rs4778889 T > C showed that the TT genotype had a considerably higher risk of T1D than the TC genotype [OR = 2.195 (1.205–3.999)]. In comparison to patients with the C allele [OR = 0.6914 (0.38–1.2569)], patients with the T allele [OR = 1.45 (0.7956–2.6296)] were notably more likely to have T1D. A significant decrease was found in the frequency of GT (OR = 0.43, p = .03) and TC (OR = 0.32, p = .011) haplotypes of IL16 gene rs11556218 T > G and rs4778889 T > C polymorphisms in T1D patients compared with controls.

Conclusion

IL16 gene rs4778889 T > C polymorphism might be associated with susceptibility to T1D. Egyptians with TT genotypes are more likely to develop T1D. However, GT and TC haplotypes of IL16 gene rs11556218 T > G and rs4778889 T > C polymorphisms highlight their protective role againstT1D disease.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• Egyptian
• interleukin16
• polymorphism
• SNP
• type 1 diabetes

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Menoufia, Egypt.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The current study design was in accordance with the Health and Human Ethical Clearance Committee guidelines for clinical research (IDE 00270), and following recruitment, the subjects gave informed consent for genetic analysis.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.