PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - GAZOULI, MARIA
AU  - ZAVOS, GEORGE
AU  - PAPACONSTANTINOU, IOANNIS
AU  - LUKAS, JOHN C.
AU  - ZOGRAFIDIS, ANASTASSIOS
AU  - BOLETIS, JOHN
AU  - KOSTAKIS, ALKIVIADIS
TI  - The Interleukin-6<sup>-174</sup> Promoter Polymorphism is Associated with a Risk of Development of Kaposi's Sarcoma in Renal Transplant Recipients
DP  - 2004 Mar 01
TA  - Anticancer Research
PG  - 1311--1314
VI  - 24
IP  - 2C
4099  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/2C/1311.short
4100  - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/24/2C/1311.full
SO  - Anticancer Res2004 Mar 01; 24
AB  - Background: Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), an angioproliferative inflammation lesion, is frequently secondary to clinical immunosuppression such as after renal transplantation. KS growth is promoted by the inflammatory cytokine interleukin -6 (IL-6) and is also correlated with human herpesvirus - 8 (HHV-8) infection. Materials and Methods: In a sample of 15 renal transplant patients with KS and 40 patients without KS, we explored the influence of genetic differences in the production of IL-6 by promoter polymorphisms G-174C as well as the correlation with HHV-8 DNA. Results: The G allele homozygotes, which are associated with increased IL-6 production, had increased KS incidence (p=0.008). Therefore increased IL-6 production constitutes a risk factor which should be considered in clinical immunosuppression. Conclusion: In addition to the HHV-8 infection, the interleukin-6 promoter polymorphism G-174C is associated with a risk of development of KS in renal transplant recipients. Copyright© 2004 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved