Influence of Promoter Variants of Interleukin-10, Interleukin-9, and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Genes on Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis

Previously, we reported genetic associations between severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis in infants and polymorphisms in the interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-4 receptor α (IL-4Rα) genes, providing evidence for involvement of T helper type 2 cytokines in the pathogenesis of RSV bronchiolitis. We expanded our studies to polymorphisms in genes encoding IL-9, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, using both a transmission/disequilibrium test and a case-control approach. Children homozygous for the IL-10 -592C or -592A allele had a higher risk of hospitalization for RSV bronchiolitis than did heterozygous carriers (odds ratio [OR], 1.73 vs. 2.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13-2.66 vs. 1.21-5.39). In children hospitalized at ≤6 months of age, a significant association between RSV bronchiolitis and the IL-10 -592C allele was found (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.10-2.35). No significant associations of TNF-α and IL-9 polymorphisms with RSV bronchiolitis were observed. We also explored the interactions between different polymorphisms and found an interaction between the IL-4Rα Q551R and IL-10 C-592A polymorphisms.