Genetic Variation of a −176g>c Interleukin-6 Correlated with White Blood Cells Count in Obesity of Indonesia

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obesity can trigger inflammation by increasing the synthesis of interleukin-6 (IL-6) which leads to leukocyte recruitment, differentiation of B lymphocytes, activating T lymphocyte cells, and triggering hematopoiesis. Variations in the IL-6 promoter gene are known to affect transcription rates. The previous studies have still found different results regarding the relationship between these gene variations and blood cell numbers. AIM: This study aimed to determine the influence of IL-6 gene variation with white blood cells counts in obese people of Indonesia. METHODS: A total of 148 people participated in this cross-sectional study. The number of obese people was 80 subjects and there were 68 non-obese people as controls. Obesity was determined based on the criteria of Asians. RESULTS: Genotype CC was not found in this study, while the GC genotype was found only in the obese group. The GG genotype in obese group had waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and higher lymphocyte rates significantly higher than the non-obese group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Variation of −174G>C IL-6 gene is associated with high white blood cell counts, especially lymphocytes number in obese people in Indonesia.