RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an inflammatory disease that develops after streptococcal infections. The pleiotropic effect of IL-10 plays a role in the regulation of immune system responses. However, impaired IL-10 expression or signaling can impair antigen clearance during acute bacterial infections, creating a favorable environment for persistent inflammation. More than 30 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the gene encoding IL-10, which has a highly polymorphic structure, and the relationship of these SNPs with increased and decreased cytokine expression have been reported. Therefore, it is assumed that these polymorphisms may be predictors of an individual's susceptibility to RHD. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the relationship between sensitivity of IL-10 variants (-1082, -819, -592) and severity of RHD in the Turkish population. METHODS: In this case-control study, IL-10 promoter gene variants of the study group consisting of 390 women were examined using the TaqMan 5' allelic discrimination test method. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between study groups in terms of IL-10 (-1082, -819, -592) genotypes. In patients with mild and severe valve damage, there was no statistically significant difference in terms of IL-10 (-1082, -819, -592) genotype distributions and allele frequencies (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that IL-10 (-1082, -819, -592) variants are not associated with the pathogenesis and severity of the disease in women in the Turkish population. In the Turkish population, IL-10 (-1082, -819, -592) variants cannot be recommended as a suitable genetic marker for RHD.