Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms in patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) may have both pro- and anti-inflammatory effects in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The distribution of polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene (-1082 (G/A), -819 (T/C) and -592 (A/C)) was analysed to determine whether they could influence disease susceptibility or clinical course in GBS. The -592 CC and -819 CC genotypes associated with increased IL-10 response were more frequent in the GBS patients than in the controls (P=0.027), but the polymorphisms did not influence the clinical course of the disease.     

Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine gene polymorphism profiles in Bulgarian multiple sclerosis patients

Dysregulation in the expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is one of the milestones in multiple sclerosis (MS) development and progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible influence of TNF-alpha (-308), TGF-beta (codons 10 and 25), IL-10 (-1082, -819, -592), IL-6 (-174) and IFN-gamma (+874) polymorphisms on susceptibility to multiple sclerosis (MS). Genotyping was performed by PCR-SSP method in 55 MS patients with relapsing-remitting form of the disease and 86 healthy subjects from Bulgarian population. We observed a statistically significant increase in the CC genotype of IL-10 -819 and -592 SNPs coupled with a decreased frequency of the TGF-beta +915 CG genotype in our MS patients (Pc<0.05). No significant differences were observed between MS patients and controls with respect to the distribution of the other cytokine gene polymorphisms investigated. Although the size of the study group is small, these results indicate that polymorphic variations of two of the major anti-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 and TGF-beta, may play a role in MS susceptibility.     

Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphisms in patients with multiple sclerosis

The expression level of interleukin-10 (IL-10) is related to polymorphisms -1082 (G/A), -819 (T/C) and -592 (A/C) in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene. The distribution of these polymorphisms was analyzed to determine whether they could influence disease susceptibility or clinical course in multiple sclerosis (MS). The -1082 (G/A), -819 (T/C) and -592 (A/C) genotypes were similarly distributed between MS patients and the controls. The primary progressive MS patients with the low IL-10 expression haplotype showed a trend towards a worse clinical outcome than did patients with medium- or high-expression haplotypes (P = 0.056). The polymorphisms did not influence the clinical course in patients with relapsing-remitting MS.     

Impact of polymorphisms in genes involved in autoimmune disease on inhibitor development in Chinese patients with haemophilia A

One of the most severe and important complication in the treatment of haemophilia A (HA) patients is the formation of inhibitors. The mechanism that leads to factor (F)VIII inhibitor formation is complicated. Both genetic and environmental factors have been mentioned to play decisive roles. Recently, polymorphisms in the genes encoding interleukin-10 (IL-10), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), have been suggested to be contributing determinants of the inhibitor risk. In order to investigate the influence of the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the genes encoding for cytokines to the inhibitors development in Chinese HA patients, we genotyped 10 SNPs with high heterozygote rates in Chinese and a CA repeat microsatellite at the gene loci IL-10 as well in a separate, unrelated case-controlled cohort of 122 affected HA patients; 63 with inhibitors and 59 without inhibitors. The particular SNPs included in this study were as follows: -592C/A and -819C/T in IL-10, -590C/T in IL-4, -318C/T and 49A/G in CTLA-4, -827C/T in TNF-α, -1112C/T and 2044G/A in IL-13, 874A/T in interferon (IFN)-γ and -295T/C in IL-16. Our results demonstrated that -819T and -592A alleles in IL-10 were observed more frequently in patients with inhibitors. This indicated that -819C/T and -592A/C in IL-10 may influence the inhibitors development in HA patients. Furthermore, we concluded that the haplotype in IL-10 (TA, CA, CC at positions -819 and -582, respectively) may predispose FVIII inhibitor development in HA patients. In conclusion, the data reported in our study clearly highlight the participation of IL-10 in inhibitors formation in Chinese HA patients.     

Association between interleukin-10 polymorphisms and Alzheimer's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

It has been hypothesized that polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-10 genes affect the risk of developing late onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, results of different studies are often inconsistent. Our aim was to investigate by meta-analysis the association of the common polymorphisms comprehensively defining the genetic variability of the IL-10 gene with AD risk. Fifteen studies investigating the association between IL-10 polymorphisms (-1082, -819, -592) and AD were found and analyzed. The model-free approach was applied to meta-analyze these case-control genetic association studies. Available data suggested an association between -1082 polymorphism and AD risk with a marginal statistical significance (GG versus AG/AA: pooled odds ratio [OR]: 0.82, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.65-1.02) and evidence of a moderate degree of between-study heterogeneity (χ2 = 27.13, d.f. = 13, p = 0.01, I2 = 52%). For the -819 and -592 polymorphisms, we did not find an association with AD, but significant between-study heterogeneity made genotype data pooling unacceptable. Analysis by IL-10 haplotype showed that the -1082G/-819C/-592C haplotype is associated with a lower risk of AD, although with a marginal statistical significance, probably due to the low number of studies included (GCC versus other genotypes: OR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.32-1.15; I2: 85%). Current findings suggest a possible association between -1082 A > G polymorphism and the risk of developing AD; this effect is more evident in the oldest patients. The high degree of between-study heterogeneity, due to several underpowered studies and to other methodological problems of individual studies underlies the need for further methodologically adequate studies.     

白细胞介素-10启动子基因多态性与缺血性卒中相关性的Meta分析

目的 系统评价IL-10启动子基因（IL-10-1082A/G、IL-10-819T/C ）多态性与缺血性卒中（i s chemi c stroke,IS）发病风险的相关性。 方法 计算机检索Pubmed、Embase、Web of Science、万方数据库及中国知网数据库发表的有关IL-10启 动子基因多态性与IS发病风险相关性的研究,检索时限为从建库至2019年2月,由2名评价者按照纳入 与排除标准选择研究、提取资料。采用RevMan 5.3软件进行荟萃分析。 结果 共纳入13篇病例对照研究,其中12篇文献研究了IL-10-1082A/G 基因多态性与I S的易感性,6 篇文献研究了IL-10-819T/C 基因多态性与I S的易感性。结果显示,在总体人群中,IL-10-1082A/G基因多 态性与I S发病风险之间存在相关性（G vs A：OR 0.71,95%CI 0.59～0.86,P＜0.001;GG vs AA：OR 0.61, 95%CI 0.49～0.76,P＜0.001;AG vs AA：OR 0.72,95%CI 0.55～0.94,P =0.020;GG+AG vs AA：OR 0.68, 95%CI 0.53～0.87,P =0.002;GG vs AG+AA：OR 0.68,95%CI 0.52～0.89,P =0.005）;而IL-10-819T/C 基因多态性与IS发病风险无明显相关性（P＞0.05）。对中国人群进行亚组分析后,Meta分析结果与总 体人群一致。 结论 IL-10-1082A/G基因的多态性与IS风险显著相关,该基因是卒中易感基因;而IL-10-819T/C基因 多态性与IS的发病风险无明显关联。     

白细胞介素-10启动子基因多态性与缺血性卒中相关性的Meta分析

目的 系统评价IL-10启动子基因（IL-10-1082A/G、IL-10-819T/C ）多态性与缺血性卒中（i s chemi c
stroke，IS）发病风险的相关性。
方法 计算机检索Pubmed、Embase、Web of Science、万方数据库及中国知网数据库发表的有关IL-10启
动子基因多态性与IS发病风险相关性的研究，检索时限为从建库至2019年2月，由2名评价者按照纳入
与排除标准选择研究、提取资料。采用RevMan 5.3软件进行荟萃分析。
结果 共纳入13篇病例对照研究，其中12篇文献研究了IL-10-1082A/G 基因多态性与I S的易感性，6
篇文献研究了IL-10-819T/C 基因多态性与I S的易感性。结果显示，在总体人群中，IL-10-1082A/G基因多
态性与I S发病风险之间存在相关性（G vs A：OR 0.71，95%CI 0.59～0.86，P＜0.001；GG vs AA：OR 0.61，
95%CI 0.49～0.76，P＜0.001；AG vs AA：OR 0.72，95%CI 0.55～0.94，P =0.020；GG+AG vs AA：OR 0.68，
95%CI 0.53～0.87，P =0.002；GG vs AG+AA：OR 0.68，95%CI 0.52～0.89，P =0.005）；而IL-10-819T/C
基因多态性与IS发病风险无明显相关性（P＞0.05）。对中国人群进行亚组分析后，Meta分析结果与总
体人群一致。
结论 IL-10-1082A/G基因的多态性与IS风险显著相关，该基因是卒中易感基因；而IL-10-819T/C基因
多态性与IS的发病风险无明显关联。     

IL-10 promoter haplotype influence on interferon treatment response in multiple sclerosis

The level of interleukin-10 (IL-10) expression is related to polymorphisms -1082 (G/A), -819 (T/C) and -592 (A/C) in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene, which constitute three haplotypes, GCC, ATA, and ACC. The ATA (a non-GCC) haplotype, which is associated with low IL-10 expression, has been shown to improve interferon (IFN) treatment response in hepatitis C. We analysed the distribution of IL-10 promoter haplotype combinations to determine whether they could influence initial IFN treatment response in 63 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). The patients were grouped into non-GCC or GCC haplotypes, and the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease activity was compared in the two groups. During the first 6 months of treatment, MS patients with non-GCC haplotypes experienced fewer new MRI T1-contrast enhancing lesions [0.77+/-0.36 (SEM)] than patients with the GCC haplotype (2.45+/-0.57) (P=0.05, Mann-Whitney U test). No differences were detected on clinical disease activity. The results suggest an influence of IL-10 promoter polymorphisms on IFN treatment response in MS.     

Genetic associations of fatigue and other symptom domains of the acute sickness response to infection

The acute sickness response to infection is a conserved set of changes in physiology and behaviour, featuring fever, fatigue, musculo-skeletal pain, disturbed mood, and cognitive difficulties. The manifestations differ somewhat between individuals, including those infected with pathogens which do not have genetic variability--suggesting host determinants. Principal components analysis (PCA) was applied to acute phase, self-report symptom data from subjects in the Dubbo Infection Outcomes Study (n=296) to empirically derive indices of fatigue, pain, neurocognitive difficulties, and mood disturbance, as well as overall illness severity. Associations were sought with functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the cytokine genes, interleukin (IL)-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interferon (IFN)-γ, and IL-10. The summed individual symptom indices correlated with overall severity and also with functional status. The relative contribution of individual symptom domains to the overall illness was stable over time within subjects, but varied between subjects with the same infection. The T allele of the IFN-γ +874 T/A SNP was associated with increased fatigue (p=0.0003; OR: 3.3). The C allele of the IL-10 -592 C/A SNP exerted a protective effect on neurocognitive difficulties (p=0.017; OR: 0.52); while the A allele for the IL-10 -592 SNP was associated with increased mood disturbance (p=0.044; OR: 1.83), as was the G allele of the IL-6 -174 G/C SNP (p=0.051; OR: 1.83). The acute sickness response has discrete symptom domains including fatigue, which have unique genetic associations. These data provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of fatigue states.     

Prognostic factors in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Purpose:   To disclose clinical, electrophysiologic, and neuroradiologic factors correlated to prognosis in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).
Methods:   One hundred thirty-six MTLE patients were studied for family history, clinical characteristics, instrumental data [electroencephalography (EEG), video-EEG, neuroimaging], and outcome. The population was divided into drug-resistant (DR: 108 patients, 79.4%) and non–drug-resistant (NDR: 28 patients, 20.6%) groups; all variables were analyzed in the two groups.
Results:   The comparison between the two groups shows a relation between resistance to therapy and febrile seizures (FS) (DR 43.5% vs. NDR 17.8%, p = 0.008), mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) (DR 64.8% vs. NDR 32.1%, p = 0.0025), early age at seizure onset (DR 23.1% vs. NDR 3.6% p = 0.0160), and epileptiform interictal abnormalities (DR 89.7% vs. NDR 68%, p = 0.010). FS were more frequent in patients with MTS than in patients without (46.28% vs. 26.3%, p = 0.0199). Sixty-nine patients underwent surgery and 85.3% of them had a good outcome.
Conclusion:   MTLE is a heterogeneous syndrome. Establishing the factors responsible for and associated with drug resistance is important for therapeutic purposes, as prompt diagnosis of drug resistance must lead to early surgical management. This study shows that FS, MTS, early age at seizure onset, and epileptiform interictal abnormalities are negative prognostic factors and that FS are related to MTS.     

Interleukin-10 (IL10) promoter polymorphisms and multiple sclerosis

Interleukin-10 (IL10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine which may modulate disease expression in multiple sclerosis (MS). Three dimorphic polymorphisms within the IL10 promoter region at positions - 1082, -819 and -519 have previously been identified. The - 1082*A allele has been associated with low and the - 1082*G allele with high in vitro IL10 production. We have genotyped 185 Caucasian MS patients and 211 ethnically matched controls for each of these three dimorphisms. MS patients were stratified for severity of disease outcome. No associations were found for any IL10 promoter polymorphisms when the MS cases were compared with controls or with disease outcome with regards to disability. IL10 polymorphism does not appear to be associated with MS or to influence disease progression.     

Report on IL-10 gene polymorphism at position -819 for major depression and schizophrenia in Korean population

The present study was carried out to examine the relationship of interleukin (IL)-10 gene polymorphism at position -819 for major depression and schizophrenia in the Korean population. DNA was extracted from 92 Korean patients with major depression, 141 Korean patients with schizophrenia, and 146 ethnically matched controls. DNA was amplified by a polymerase chain reaction-based method and digested by MaeIII, and the restriction fragment length polymorphism of two alleles, IL-10*C and IL-10*T, were assessed. There were no significant differences in genotype frequencies of IL-10*T/T, IL-10*T/C, and IL-10*C/C as well as allelic frequencies of IL-10*T and IL-10*C between patients with major depression and controls in the Korean population. Comparison of genotype and allelic frequencies of IL-10 gene between patients with schizophrenia and controls were also not significant. The present study suggests that IL-10 gene polymorphism at position -819 does not confer susceptibility to major depression and schizophrenia, at least in the Korean population. Further systematic studies including various clinical variables would be required.     

Correlating interleukin-10 promoter gene polymorphisms with human cerebral infarction onset

Evidence suggests that interleukin-10 (IL-10) deficiency exacerbates inflammation and worsens the outcome of brain ischemia. In view of the critical role of the single nucleotide polymorphic sites -1082 (A/G) and -819 (C/T) in the promoter region of the IL-10 gene, we hypothesized that they are associated with cerebral infarction morbidity in the Chinese Han population. We genotyped these allelic gene polymorphisms by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction methods in 181 patients with cerebral infarction (cerebral infarction group) and 115 healthy subjects (control group). We identified significant differences in genotype distribution and allele frequency of the IL-10-1082 A/G allele between cerebral infarction and control groups (χ² = 6.643, P = 0.010). The IL-10-1082 A allele frequency was significantly higher in the cerebral infarction group (92.3%) than in the control group (86.1%) (P = 0.015). Moreover, cerebral infarction risk of the AA genotype was 2-fold higher than with the AG genotype (OR = 2.031, 95%CI: 1.134–3.637). In addition, AA genotype together with hypertension was the independent risk factor of cerebral infarction (OR = 2.073, 95%CI: 1.278–3.364). No statistical difference in genotype distribution or allele frequency of IL-10-819 C/T was found between cerebral infarction and control groups (P > 0.05). These findings suggest that the IL-10-1082 A/G gene polymorphism is involved in cerebral infarction, and increased A allele frequency is closely associated with occurrence of cerebral infarction.     

A substantial number of Rasmussen syndrome patients have increased IgG, CD4+ T cells, TNFα, and Granzyme B in CSF

Purpose:   We studied the immunologic molecules in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and discussed their evolutional changes in pediatric patients with Rasmussen syndrome (RS).
Methods:   CSF samples collected from 27 patients with RS (average onset age, 7.5 ± 5.6 years) were studied. Cell count, protein, glucose, albumin, chloride, and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels were measured by conventional methods. Surface markers of lymphocytes in CSF were examined by a cell sorter. Granzyme B, interferon γ (IFNγ), interleukin 4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and IL-12 in CSF were quantitated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Autoantibodies against GluR ε2 (NR2B) were examined by immunoblot.
Results:   The data of the first CSF examination showed that IgG levels (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.01), CD4⁺ T cells (p = 0.02), TNFα levels (p < 0.01), and Granzyme B levels (p < 0.01) were elevated compared with disease controls. White blood cell count, IFNγ level, IL-12 level, and Granzyme B level were elevated, especially in the early stage of disease. CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ cells, CD3⁺ T cells, IgG levels, and TNFα levels were elevated at all stages of disease evolution. Protein levels and albumin levels were elevated in the progressed stage. Autoantibodies against GluR ε2 (NR2B) (IgG) were found in 50% of patients in the early stage, and the positive rate was low at the progressed stage.
Discussion:   The present findings suggest that complex pathophysiologic mechanisms involving CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells change evolutionally during the progression of RS. A crucial cytotoxic process occurs in the early stage, and declines in the progressed stage.     

Interleukin-10 promoter polymorphism and venous thrombosis: a case-control study

The human interleukin-10 promoter gene is highly polymorphic. IL-10 polymorphisms have been associated with various autoimmune and lymphoproliferative disorders. Although IL-10 has been shown to modulate thrombin generation in several experimental models, it is not known whether IL-10 polymorphisms could be a risk factor for venous thrombosis. We therefore conducted a case-control study comparing 74 consecutive patients who experienced at least one episode of documented venous thromboembolic event and 100 healthy controls. All subjects were Caucasians. Five polymorphisms of the IL-10 promoter gene were studied: two highly polymorphic dinucleotide repeats, IL-10 R and IL-10G, and three single nucleotide polymorphisms at position -1082, -819 and -592. Factor VG1691C Leiden mutation was systematically determined. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IL-10 G13 and G10 alleles are independent risk factors for venous thrombosis (Odds ratio:OR = 3.33, p = 0.003 and OR = 2.83, p = 0.03, respectively). Furthermore, IL-10 G10 allele is more frequent in recurrent disease.     

Freewheel training decreases pro- and increases anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in mouse intestinal lymphocytes

Intestinal inflammation and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) may occur due to imbalances in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Long-term exercise reduces the risk for IBD. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of long-term wheel running in healthy mice on intestinal lymphocyte (IL) expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine proteins. In addition, pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins and the percentage of early apoptotic, late apoptotic, and dead IL were measured with wheel running and following acute aerobic exercise. Female C57BL/6 mice were given 16 weeks of wheel running (WR) or a control condition (No WR) and at the end of training were assigned to a single acute treadmill exercise session with sacrifice immediately, 2 h after, or 24 h after completion of exercise, or were not run (sedentary) with respect to the acute treadmill exercise. Intestinal lymphocytes were assessed for pro-(TNF-α, IL-17) and anti-(IL-10) inflammatory, and pleiotropic (IL-6) cytokines, and pro-(caspase 3 and 7, AIF) and anti-(Bcl-2) apoptotic protein expression. The percent of early (Annexin⁺) and late (Annexin⁺PI⁺) apoptotic, and dead (PI⁺) IL was determined. WR mice had lower TNF-α and caspase 7, and higher IL-10 and IL-6 expression in IL than No WR mice. A single exposure to intense aerobic treadmill exercise increased pro-(TNF-α) and anti-(IL-10) inflammatory cytokine and pro-apoptotic protein (caspase 3) expression in IL. The percent of early and late apoptotic, and dead IL were higher after acute exercise. Although long-term voluntary wheel running did not protect against acute exercise-induced changes in IL cytokine expression or apoptosis, there was an overall ‘anti-inflammatory’ effect observed as a result of wheel running in healthy mice.     

Association study of 21 circadian genes with bipolar I disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia

Objective:  Published studies suggest associations between circadian gene polymorphisms and bipolar I disorder (BPI), as well as schizoaffective disorder (SZA) and schizophrenia (SZ). The results are plausible, based on prior studies of circadian abnormalities. As replications have not been attempted uniformly, we evaluated representative, common polymorphisms in all three disorders.
Methods:  We assayed 276 publicly available 'tag' single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 21 circadian genes among 523 patients with BPI, 527 patients with SZ/SZA, and 477 screened adult controls. Detected associations were evaluated in relation to two published genome-wide association studies (GWAS).
Results:  Using gene-based tests, suggestive associations were noted between EGR3 and BPI (p = 0.017), and between NPAS2 and SZ/SZA (p = 0.034). Three SNPs were associated with both sets of disorders ( NPAS2 : rs13025524 and rs11123857; RORB: rs10491929; p < 0.05). None of the associations remained significant following corrections for multiple comparisons. Approximately 15% of the analyzed SNPs overlapped with an independent study that conducted GWAS for BPI; suggestive overlap between the GWAS analyses and ours was noted at ARNTL .
Conclusions:  Several suggestive, novel associations were detected with circadian genes and BPI and SZ/SZA, but the present analyses do not support associations with common polymorphisms that confer risk with odds ratios greater than 1.5. Additional analyses using adequately powered samples are warranted to further evaluate these results.     

Cytokine gene variants and venous thrombotic risk in the BRATROS (BRAZILIAN THROMBOSIS STUDY)

INTRODUCTION: Venous thrombosis (VT) and inflammation are two closely related entities. In the present investigation we assessed whether there is a relation between genetic modifiers of the inflammatory response and the risk of VT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 420 consecutive and unrelated patients with an objective diagnosis of deep VT and 420 matched controls were investigated. The frequencies of the following gene polymorphisms were determined in all subjects: TNF-alpha-308 G/A, LT-alpha+252 A/G, IL-6-174 G/C, IL1-ra 86 bp VNTR, IL-10-1082 A/G and CD-31 125 C/G. RESULTS: Overall odds ratio (OR) for VT related to TNF-alpha-308 G/A, LT-alpha+252 A/G, IL-6-174 G/C, A1 allele (4 bp repeat) of the IL1-ra 86 bp VNTR, IL-10-1082 A/G and CD-31 125 C/G were respectively: 1.0 (CI95: 0.8-1.5), 1.3 (CI95: 1.0-1.7), 1.1 (CI95: 0.9-1.5), 1.6 (CI95: 1-2.5), 1.2 (CI95: 0.8-1.7) and 0.8 (CI95: 0.6-1.1). A possible interaction between polymorphisms was observed only for the co-inheritance of the mutant alleles of the LT-alpha+252 A/G and IL-10-1082 G/A polymorphisms (OR=2; CI95: 1.1-3.8). The risk of VT conferred by factor V Leiden and FII G20210A was not substantially altered by co-inheritance with any of the cytokine gene polymorphisms. CONCLUSIONS: Cytokine gene polymorphisms here investigated did not significantly influence venous thrombotic risk.     

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in multiple sclerosis: a meta‐analysis of 45 studies including 7379 cases and 8131 controls

Many environmental and genetic factors have been implicated in the development of multiple sclerosis. However, the aetiology has not been clarified yet. Therefore, using a meta‐analytic approach, we tried to probe the potential association between various cytokine gene polymorphisms and the occurrence of multiple sclerosis. A comprehensive literature search yielded 45 eligible studies, which involved 7379 cases and 8131 controls. Totally, the effect of eight polymorphisms, i.e. IL‐1A C[‐889]T, IL‐1B C[‐511]T, IL‐1B C[3953]T, IL‐4 C[33]T, IL‐10 C[‐819]T, IL‐10 G[‐1082]A, tumour necrosis factor‐a (TNFA) G[‐308]A and TNFA G[‐238]A, was evaluated in a random‐effects meta‐analysis. There was no evidence of statistically significant association between the aforementioned polymorphisms and multiple sclerosis. Publication bias and heterogeneity were absent in most analyses. Within its limitations, the current literature‐based meta‐analysis does not indicate that specific polymorphic variations of genes encoding pro‐inflammatory and anti‐inflammatory cytokines affect susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.