Objective: The Interleukin-10 (IL-10) gene polymorphism (-1082 A>G) has been linked to the risk of developing lymphoma, but the available results were inconsistent. To derive a more precise estimation, we performed a meta-analysis.
Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted to examine all the eligible studies about IL-10-1082A>G polymorphism and lymphoma risk. We used odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association.
Results: We included 12 studies, including 5847 cases and 6016 controls. The overall results suggested that the IL-10-1082G allele was associated with a borderline significantly increased risk of lymphoma (G vs. A: OR=1.07, 95% CI=1.01-1.12; GG vs. AA: OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.02-1.26; and AG+GG vs. AA: OR=1.10, 95% CI=1.02-1.19). Stratifying by ethnicity (Caucasian and mixed), tumor type [non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)], sample size (> 1000 and ⩽ 1000 subjects) and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in controls, similar results were found in mixed subgroup, NHL subgroup, large studies and the subgroup conforming to HWE.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the meta-analysis suggests that the IL-10-1082A>G polymorphism is weakly associated with altered susceptibility to lymphoma. Further studies with haplotype analysis and on larger population of mixed ethnicity are warranted for a more definitive conclusion.
Keywords: Lymphoma; interleukin-10; meta-analysis; polymorphism; susceptibility.