Clinical and neurological specifics of the vertebrogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy course in the patients with RS1143627 polymorphism of the <i>IL-1β</i> gene

Rationale: Vertebrogenic lumbosacral radiculopathy (VLSRP) is a consequence of exposure to physical exertion, back injuries, and smoking. Genetic polymorphism of the cytokine IL-1β contributes to the progression of VLSRP due to its increased production in certain genetic variants. Aim: To establish an association between the rs1143627 polymorphism of the IL-1β gene with VLSRP, as well as with clinical and neurological specifics of VLSRP during its treatment. Methods: The study involved 121 patients with VLSRP aged 22 to 66 years (median, 41 [35; 49] years; men, 110 (90.91%)), treated in the in-patient Department of Neurology from January 2023 to February 2024, and 100 age- and gender compatible healthy subjects. Based on the results of clinical and neurological assessments, the indices of the Digital Rating Scale, Oswestry and Roland-Morris questionnaires were determined. The rs1143627 polymorphism was identified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (IQ5 amplifier (Bio-Rad, USA)) with the SNP-express (IL-1β-31C/T) test system (Litech, Russia). Results: VLSRP was associated with the distribution of alleles (χ2 = 3.93; p = 0.049) and genotypes according to the dominant model (χ2 = 4.7; p = 0.032) of the rs1143627 polymorphism of the IL-1β gene. The minor T allele increased the odds ratio for VLSRP (OR 1.51; 95% CI 1.004–2.26) in the dominant model; the sum of CC + CT genotypes was also associated with increased VPSRP odds ratio (OR 1.814; 95% CI 1.056–3.115). The DRS scores under treatment showed the significant predominance of pain in the T (CT + TT) allele carriers (p 0.001). As assessed by the Oswestry and Roland-Morris questionnaires, the minor T allele in CT + TT genotypes demonstrated prevailing everyday life activities and less effective results after a treatment course (p 0.001). In the study subjects of ≤ 41 years of age, the multiplicative model showed a higher risk of VLSRP with the minor T allele by 1.8-fold (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.02–3.19). In the dominant model, the sum of genotypes with the minor T allele (CT + TT) was associated with a 2.23-fold higher risk of VLSRP (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.05–4.72). Conclusions: We were able to find the association between the rs1143627 polymorphism of the IL-1β gene with VLSRP, with a higher risk of the disease in the patients of ≤ 41 years of age, higher DRS, Oswestry, and Roland-Morris questionnaire scores, which was related to the presence of a minor T allele and CT + TT genotypes.