Genetic relationship between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and the risk of clinical atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND: We retrieved different reports containing different genetic effects of − 1082 A/G, − 819 T/C, and − 592 A/C polymorphisms within the IL-10 (interleukin-10) gene on the susceptibility to clinical atopic dermatitis. METHODS: Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis to comprehensively assess such a genetic relationship after collecting the available published evidence. STATA 12.0 software was used for the statistical analysis under the allelic, homozygotic, heterozygotic, dominant, recessive and carrier genetic models. RESULTS: By retrieving and screening database literature, a total of 16 eligible case-control studies were finally selected. For the IL-10 -1082 A/G polymorphism, we did not detect a significant difference between atopic dermatitis cases and population-based controls in the overall meta-analysis under the genetic models of allele G vs. A (P = 0.540), GG vs. AA (P = 0.853), AG vs AA (P = 0.265), AG + GG vs AA (P = 0.221), GG vs AA+AG (P = 0.540) and carrier G vs. A (P = 0.643). Moreover, a statistically non-significant association was observed in the most subgroup meta-analyses by the factors of ethnicity, country and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Likewise, the negative results were detected for the synthetic analysis of IL-10 -819 T/C and − 592 C/A polymorphisms. CONCLUSION: The current evidence does not support a strong genetic relationship between IL-10 -1082 A/G, − 819 T/C and − 592 A/C polymorphisms and the susceptibility to atopic dermatitis. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12881-019-0817-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.