The interleukin-1 (IL-1) gene polymorphisms have been implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) risk, but results are controversial. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to address this issue. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to investigate the strength of the association. The meta-analysis revealed no association between the IL1B (−511), (−31), (+3954) polymorphisms and COPD risk. However, stratification by ethnicity indicated that the T allele carriers of the IL1B (−511) polymorphism and the C allele carriers of the IL1B (−31) variant were associated with an increased risk for developing COPD in East Asians (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.31, Pz = 0.009 and OR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.14–2.11, Pz = 0.006, respectively). The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between the IL1RN (VNTR) polymorphism and COPD risk in all study subjects and East Asians under homozygote model (22 vs. LL: OR = 3.16, 95% CI: 1.23–8.13, Pz = 0.017 and OR = 3.20, 95% CI: 1.13–9.12, Pz = 0.029, respectively). Our meta-analysis suggests that the IL1B (−511), (−31) and IL1RN (VNTR) polymorphisms are associated with COPD risk in East Asians. There is no association between the IL1B (+3954) polymorphism and COPD risk. Further studies should be performed in other ethnic groups besides East Asians.

The TNF-α-308G/A polymorphism contributes to the risk of OSA, especially in adults.

Our findings suggest that IL-13 SNP rs20541 is significantly associated with AR risk in Asians but not in Caucasians. However, the accumulating evidence does not support an association of IL-13 SNP rs1800925 and CD14 SNP rs2569190 with AR risk.