OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 gene (MCP-1) -2518A/G polymorphism and acute pancreatitis (AP) in the Han population of Suzhou, China.

METHODSThe polymorphisms were detected with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The genotypes and allele frequencies of MCP-1 -2518A/G were calculated and analyzed in 101 AP patients including 78 mild AP (MAP) patients and 23 severe AP (SAP) patients, and 120 healthy individuals as control group.

RESULTSThe frequency of MCP-1 -2518 AA genotype in control group was significantly higher than that in SAP and MAP groups (P < 0.01). People with AG and GG genotypes had 5.896 times risk of developing MAP (P < 0.01, OR=5.896) compared with people with AA genotype. Subjects carrying G allele were at a 7-fold elevated risk for SAP (P < 0.05, OR=7.011) contrasted with subjects carrying AA genotype. However, no difference in AA genotypic distribution was noted between MAP and SAP groups (chi square=0.006, P=0.997). The frequency of G allele in healthy controls was obviously lower than that in MAP (P < 0.01, OR=0.318) and SAP groups (P < 0.01, OR=0.309). No difference of G allele frequency was found between SAP group and MAP group (P=0.623, OR=1.211).

CONCLUSIONThe MCP-1 -2518 AA genotype of the population in Suzhou may be a protective genotype of AP. People with higher frequency of G allele is more likely to suffer from AP. Nonetheless, the genotype of AA and the frequency of G allele couldn't predict the risk of SAP.