IL-1β haplotype influences the effect of NOx exposure on gestational age in the South African MACE birth cohort:

Objective:Cytokines, molecules within the immune system that affect either a pro- or anti-inflammatory response, have previously been shown to influence birth outcomes. The maternal cytokine gene–environment interactions are thought to alter their expression, potentially influencing susceptibility to adverse birth outcomes. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the maternal interleukin-1β (IL-1β) haplotype and expression variation with oxides of nitrogen (NOx) levels, and thereafter investigate the IL-1β haplotype-specific effects of NOx exposure levels, IL-1β mRNA expression and other variables on gestational age.Material and methods:Using the prospective Mother and Child in the Environment (MACE) birth cohort in Durban, South Africa, 335 participants were genotyped for the IL-1β haplotype. Previous studies showed that three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), IL-1β-1464G/C, -511C/T and -31C/T, constitute the IL-1β functional haplotype. These SNPs were genotyped using a restr...