Objective Cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis of sepsis. Association between IL-6 rs1800795 G/C polymorphism and the risks of sepsis is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of IL-6 rs1800795 G/C gene polymorphism with full-term neonatal sepsis and to determine its effect on the serum IL6 levels in these infants by a prospective study.

Methods The study included 200 full-term neonates from January 2019 to December 2020: 100 with sepsis (sepsis group), 47 with culture proven sepsis, and 53 with clinical sepsis, and 100 without infection (control group). The concentrations of IL-6 in serum were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The polymorphisms of IL-6 rs1800795 G/C were analyzed to compare the genotypic and allelic frequencies in the groups by using the first-generation sequencing (Sanger sequencing). The association was studied between IL-6 rs1800795 G/C polymorphisms and serum IL-6 levels, and neonatal sepsis. The relationships between IL-6 rs1800795G/C polymorphisms and sepsis and serum IL-6 levels were separately analyzed by logistic regression and analysis of variance.

Results There were no significant differences in genotypic frequencies and allelic frequencies of IL-6 rs1800795(G/C) in the groups (p >0.05). There were no relations between IL-6 rs1800795G/C polymorphisms and sepsis and serum IL-6 levels by statistical analysis (p >0.05).

Conclusion IL-6rs1800795G/C may not be genetic risk factors for full-term neonates; There was no association between serum IL-6 levels and IL-6 rs1800795G/C polymorphisms.

#Co-first authors.

Received: 14 May 2022

Accepted: 12 September 2022

Article published online:
07 November 2022

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