Association between -174 G/C polymorphism of interleukin-6 gene and alcoholism.

Objectives: IL-6 plays the role as a physiological neuromodulator involved in dopaminergic, serotonergic and other neurotransmissions. The aim of the present association study was to examine the effect of the G/C -174 polymorphism of the IL-6 gene on disposition to alcoholism.

Methods: We investigated the relationship between the G/C -174 polymorphism of the IL-6 gene and alcohol dependence in 281 alcoholics and 242 control subjects.