Association of IL-6-174G/C and IL10-1082G/A polymorphisms with recurrent aphthous stomatitis risk: A meta-analysis

Background:Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is a common oral disease with unknown etiology. The association between IL-6-174G/C and IL10-1082G/A polymorphisms and the risk of RAS remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to gain more evidence-based information.Methods:Four online databases, PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library, were searched, and the relevant publications were collected. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the association of the IL-6-174G/C and IL10-1082G/A polymorphisms with RAS susceptibility.Results:Nine published case-control studies with 779 patients and 1016 controls were collected. The overall analysis proved that the IL10-1082G/A polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of RAS in a dominant model (GG+AG vs AA: OR=1.49, 95% CI=1.10-2.01, P=.01). A subgroup analysis based on ethnicity revealed significant associations in Asian populations in allelic, heterozygote, and dominant models (G vs A: OR=1.55, 95% CI=1.04-2.31, P=.03; AG vs AA: OR=1.76, 95% CI=1.16-2.67, P=.01; GG+AG vs AA: OR=2.04, 95% CI=1.37-3.03, P=.00). The association in Caucasians and people of mixed ethnicity requires further study. No significant association was detected between the IL-6-174G/C polymorphism and RAS in any of the genetic models. However, subgroup analysis by ethnicity revealed that the Caucasians were more likely to develop RAS in 4 genetic models (G vs C: OR=2.36, 95% CI=1.26-4.41, P=.01; GG vs CC: OR=7.05, 95% CI=3.50-14.18, P=.00; GG+CG vs CC: OR=4.28, 95% CI=2.17-8.45, P=.00; GG vs CG+CC: OR=2.59, 95% CI=1.05-6.41, P=.04). In addition, a significantly decreased risk of RAS susceptibility was found in Asians (CG vs CC: OR=0.27, 95% CI=0.07-0.99, P=.049; GG+CG vs CC: OR=0.27, 95% CI=0.07-0.98, P=.047).Conclusion:Our meta-analysis indicated that the IL10-1082G/A polymorphism is associated with RAS susceptibility, especially in Asians. In contrast, the IL-6-174G/C polymorphism does not have a statistically significant association with RAS susceptibility. However, it may play a different role during the development of RAS in different ethnicities.