Lack of association between the IL1A gene (-889) polymorphism and outcome after head injury

Abstract

Background: Interleukin (IL) I is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been identified as an important mediator of neurodegeneration induced by ischemia or traumatic brain injury. Accumulating evidence to date has suggested that the major cytokine contributing to neurodegeneration after head injury is IL-1 beta rather than IL-1 alpha; however, there is no sufficient data regarding IL-1 alpha in literature, and there may be an association between IL1A gene polymorphism and outcome after head injury.