RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 C-174G Polymorphism in the Promoter of the Interleukin-6 Gene Is Associated With Insulin Resistance JF Diabetes Care JO Diabetes Care FD American Diabetes Association SP 2007 OP 2012 DO 10.2337/diacare.28.8.2007 VO 28 IS 8 A1 Cardellini, Marina A1 Perego, Lucia A1 D’Adamo, Monica A1 Marini, Maria Adelaide A1 Procopio, Cristina A1 Hribal, Marta Letizia A1 Andreozzi, Francesco A1 Frontoni, Simona A1 Giacomelli, Maurizio A1 Paganelli, Michele A1 Pontiroli, Antonio E. A1 Lauro, Renato A1 Folli, Franco A1 Sesti, Giorgio YR 2005 UL http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/8/2007.abstract AB OBJECTIVE—The C-174G promoter polymorphism of the interleukin (IL)-6 gene was found to influence transcriptional activity and plasma IL-6 levels in humans. We addressed the question of whether the C-174G IL-6 polymorphism contributes to variation of insulin sensitivity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Two cohorts of subjects were genotyped. Cohort 1 includes 275 nondiabetic subjects who underwent a euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Cohort 2 includes 77 patients with morbid obesity who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). RESULTS—The genotypes were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions. In cohort 1, insulin sensitivity was reduced in carriers of the −174G/G genotype as compared with subjects carrying the C allele (P = 0.004). Carriers of −174G/G displayed significantly higher plasma IL-6 levels in comparison with carriers of the C allele. In a stepwise linear regression analysis, the C-174G polymorphism was independently associated with insulin sensitivity; however, after inclusion of plasma IL-6 concentrations, the polymorphism was excluded from the model explaining insulin sensitivity variability, thus suggesting that the polymorphism was affecting insulin sensitivity by regulating IL-6 plasma levels. IL-6 mRNA levels were measured by real-time RT-PCR in subcutaneous fat obtained from obese patients of cohort 2 during LAGB. Carriers of −174G/G showed increased IL-6 expression compared with subjects carrying the C allele (P = 0.04). There was a significant correlation between adipose IL-6 mRNA expression and insulin resistance assessed by homeostasis model assessment (ρ = 0.28, P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS—These results indicate that the −174G/G genotype of the IL-6 gene may contribute to variations in insulin sensitivity.