Interleukin 1 receptor type 2 gene polymorphism is associated with reduced risk of preterm birth.

Objective: Interleukin 1 receptor type 2 (IL1R2) regulates the inflammatory pathway that results in preterm delivery. We aim to investigate the impact of IL1R2 gene polymorphisms on the risk of preterm delivery.

Method: A total of 664 women with spontaneous preterm and term deliveries were genotyped for IL1R2 gene polymorphisms (rs2072476A/G, rs2071008G/T, rs2072474C/T) using Sequenom MassARRAY platform.

Results: Ethnic-specific analysis revealed a significant association between the G allele of IL1R2 rs2072476 polymorphism and reduced risk of PTB in the Indian ethnic subgroup (OR: 3.7, 95% CI: 1.3-11.3, p = 0.017). The odds of G allele occurring among Indian women with term delivery (>37 weeks) was three times higher than those with preterm delivery (<37 weeks). Genotype analysis showed a significant association between the GG genotype of IL1R2 rs2072476 polymorphism and term delivery in the Indian women.

Conclusion: This study shows disparity in the occurrence of preterm birth due to the differences in the genotype of the women. Particularly, Indian women with the minor allele of IL1R2 rs2072476 polymorphisms were more likely to deliver at term (>37 weeks). These findings suggest the possible influence of maternal IL1R2 gene polymorphism on the risk of preterm delivery.