OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between interleukin (IL)-33 gene polymorphism with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 210 COPD patients (observation group) and 180 healthy people receiving physical examinations (control group) were included in this study. Clinical information of each subject was collected. Relative levels of inflammation-related factor IL-33 and pulmonary function indexes were determined. Moreover, the polymorphism of IL-33 rs1891385 was detected with the TaqMan-minor groove binder (MGB) probe. RESULTS: Observation group had a higher level of IL-33 than that of control group (p< 0.01), and the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (%) and FEV1/the predicted value ratio (%) in observation group were lower than those in control group (p< 0.05). There were significant differences in the distribution frequencies of genotypes and alleles between the two groups (p< 0.05), and genotype AA exhibited a higher level of IL-33, but a lower FEV1/FVC ratio (%) and FEV1/the predicted value ratio (%) than those of genotypes AC and CC (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: IL-33 and pulmonary function test can be used to effectively evaluate the progression of COPD, and the polymorphism of IL-33 rs1891385 is correlated with the onset of COPD.