Cytokine gene polymorphisms and the development of severe recurrent genital herpes

Background: Despite accumulating evidence on the role of cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of herpesvirus infections, the contribution of polymorphisms in immunoregulatory cytokine genes to the development of severe forms of recurrent genital herpes remains insufficiently studied. Most published studies are characterized by limited sample sizes, heterogeneous designs, and the lack of analysis of severe disease as a distinct clinical phenotype. Therefore, further investigation of immunogenetic factors associated with severe recurrent genital herpes is warranted. AIM: To investigate the distribution of alleles and genotypes of the IL-1 -511T/C, IL-2 -330T/G, and IL-10 G-1082A polymorphisms in patients with severe recurrent genital herpes. Methods: This observational case–control study included 124 participants of both sexes aged 18–64 years who were examined between 2018 and 2024. The study group comprised patients with severe recurrent genital herpes (n=62), while the control group consisted of individuals without clinical manifestations of recurrent genital herpes (n=62). Genotyping of the IL-1 -511T/C, IL-2 -330T/G, and IL-10 G-1082A polymorphisms was performed using polymerase chain reaction with allele-specific primers. Associations were evaluated by calculating odds ratios (ORs), χ² statistics, and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Patients with severe recurrent genital herpes demonstrated a significantly lower frequency of the C allele and CC genotype of the IL-1 -511T/C polymorphism, suggesting a possible protective role of these genetic variants. No significant differences in allele or genotype distributions were observed between the groups for the IL-2 -330T/G polymorphism. In contrast, the IL-10 G-1082A polymorphism was characterized by a higher frequency of the G allele and GG genotype among patients with severe disease, which was associated with an increased risk of an unfavorable clinical course (p 0.05). Conclusion: Severe recurrent genital herpes is associated with specific allele and genotype distributions of the IL-1 -511T/C and IL-10 G-1082A polymorphisms. These findings support the importance of immunogenetic factors in predicting disease severity. The limitations of the study include a relatively small sample size and the lack of assessment of functional cytokine activity.

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