IL-10 was chosen because immune alterations are a major risk factor for NHL, and IL-10 is a cytokine involved in inflammatory processes associated with clinical outcome.
NHL risks were increased among those with both an autoimmune condition and the TNF G308A GA/AA (OR(NHL), 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.2) or the IL10T3575A TA/AA genotype (OR(NHL), 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-2.6) compared with individuals without an autoimmune condition and with the common TNF G308A GG or IL10 T3575A TT genotype, respectively; results were similar for DLBCL and follicular lymphoma.
The high IL-10 production, due to IL-10(-1082GG) genotype, influences the clinical expression of the HCV infection by increasing susceptibility to develop NHL and might contribute to the indolent form of the disease.