Genetic variation in proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine production in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome*

OBJECTIVES The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence of genetic variation for cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-alpha, interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-beta1) in patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, to measure circulating cytokine levels and relate these to genotype, and to identify the relationship between genetic variation and outcome. DESIGN Prospective analysis. SETTING Intensive care unit of a university teaching hospital. PATIENTS Eighty-eight critically ill patients with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The frequency of the different interleukin-10 genotypes (corresponding to high, intermediate, and low interleukin-10 production ) were significantly different between controls and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome patients. High interleukin-10 producers were under-represented in the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome group: This genotype occurred in 30% of controls but in only 6% of patients (