Association between Polymorphisms of Interleukin-17A and Interleukin-17F Genes and Silicosis Susceptibility in Chinese Han People

Background: To explore the relationship between polymorphisms of interleukin17 (IL-17) gene(A-832G7488A/G) and the susceptibility to silicosis, a risk factor for lung cancer. Materials and
Methods: A total of113 silicosis patients and 116 workers without silicosis were enrolled in the case-control study. IL-17A A-832Gand IL-17F 7488A/G polymorphisms were evaluated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment lengthpolymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
Results: The frequencies of AA,GG and AG of IL-17A A-832G locus in the caseand control groups were 46.9%, 8.0%, 45.1%, and 49.2%, 7.6%, 43.2%, respectively, with no significantdifferences (p>0.05).The GG genotype in the IL-17F (7488A/G) locus was not found. The frequencies of AA andGA of IL-17F 7488A/G locus in the case and control groups were 84.1%, 15.9% and 66.4%, 33.6%, respectively(p<0.05). Analysis of combined effects showed that the individuals with GG+AG genotype of IL-17A and GG+GAgenotype of IL-17F are protected against silicosis (OR=0.469).
Conclusions: IL-17F 7488A/G is associated withsusceptibility to silicosis, and G allele may have a protective effect. No relationship was found between IL-17Agene polymorphisms at A-832G and silicosis.