Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms influence susceptibility to ulcerative colitis in a gender-specific manner

Abstract

A gender effect is observed, with women of AG/AA IL10 genotypes and AC/AT haplotypes having a higher risk of developing UC at a younger age. This finding could be related to the previously documented lower IL10 production associated with the -1082A allele and to the IL10 down-regulating effect of estrogens.