Supplementary Material for: The IL20 Genetic Polymorphism Is Associated with Altered Clinical Outcome in Septic Shock

Background: The IL10 family of genes includes crucial immune regulators. We tested the hypothesis that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL10 , IL19 , IL20 , and IL24 of the IL10 family gene cluster alter the clinical outcome of septic shock. Methods: Patients with septic shock ( n = 1,193) were genotyped for 13 tag SNPs of IL10 , IL19 , IL20 , and IL24 . IL20 gene expression was measured in genotyped lymphoblastoid cells in vitro. Cardiac surgical ICU patients ( n = 981) were genotyped for IL20 rs2981573 A/G. The primary outcome variable was 28-day mortality. Results: Patients with the G allele of IL20 rs2981573 had a significantly increased hazard of death over the 28-day period compared to patients with the A allele in the septic shock cohort (adjusted hazard ratio 1.27; 95% confidence interval 1.10–1.47; p = 8.0 × 10 –4 ). Patients with the GG genotype had more organ dysfunction ( p < 0.05). The GG genotype was associated with increased IL20 gene expression in stimulated lymphoblastoid cells in vitro ( p < 0.05). The cardiac surgical ICU patients with the GG genotype had an increased length of ICU stay ( p = 0.032). Conclusions: The GG genotype of IL20 rs2981573 SNP was associated with increased IL20 gene expression and increased adverse outcomes in patients with septic shock and following cardiac surgery.