RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between the polymorphisms of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and the silicosis susceptibility.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The case group consisted of 101 male patients with stage I silicosis diagnosed by the Pneumoconiosis Diagnosis Expert Panel according to the Chinese National Diagnosis Criteria of Pneumoconiosis (GBZ 70-2009). The control group consisted of 121 workers without silicosis exposed to same dusts. The cases and the controls had the same dust exposure history. The peripheral venous blood was drawn from each subject. DNA was extracted from leucocytes by the salting method. The polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) techniques and PCR were used to examine polymorphism of IL-8 (Met31Arg, 781C/T, -251A/T and RA+860).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no the differences of age, cumulative exposure time and smoking between the cases and the controls (P > 0.05). The frequencies of IL-8 (Met31Arg) GT genotypes in cases and controls were 12.87% and 2.48%, respectively, there was significant difference (P < 0.05). The frequencies of allele G in cases and controls were 6.44% and 2.07%, respectively, there was significant difference (P < 0.05). The frequencies of IL-8 (-251A/T) AA genotypes in cases and controls were 9.90% and 25.64%, respectively, there was significant difference (P < 0.05). The frequencies of IL-8 (781C/T) CC, CT, TT genotypes in cases and controls were 38.61%, 40.59%, 20.79% and 46.28%, 40.50%, 13.22%, respectively, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05). The frequencies of IL-8 (RA+860) GG, GC and CC genotypes in cases and controls were 75.25%, 21.78%, 2.97%, 80.17%, 14.88%, 4.96%, respectively, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>IL-8 (Met31Arg and -251A/T) genetic polymorphisms might play a role in the development of silicosis. The risk of pneumoconiosis in workers carrying (Met31Arg) genotype GT is likely to increase. The risk of pneumoconiosis in workers carrying IL-8 (-251A/T) AA genotype is likely to decrease. The relationship between IL-8 781C/T and RA+860 genes polymorphisms and silicosis is not found.</p>