Association between -174 G/C polymorphism of interleukin-6 gene and alcoholism.

OBJECTIVES: IL-6 plays the role as a physiological neuromodulator involved in dopaminergic, serotonergic and other neurotransmissions. The aim of the present association study was to examine the effect of the G/C -174 polymorphism of the IL-6 gene on disposition to alcoholism. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between the G/C -174 polymorphism of the IL-6 gene and alcohol dependence in 281 alcoholics and 242 control subjects. RESULTS: The significant difference in G allele frequency between alcoholic group (0.52) and control group (0.59) was found (P < 0.03). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first finding providing evidence for an association between alcoholism and the polymorphism of the IL-6 gene. The background of the relationship between the IL-6 gene and alcoholism is discussed.