Background: Interleukin-16 (IL16) is an important regulator of T cell activation and was reported to act as achemo-attractant agent. There are evidences that IL16 can control the neuroinflammatory processes in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study was performed to show whether the IL-16 genepolymorphism, rs11556218 is associated with the risk of sporadic AD in Iranian population.

Materials and Methods: Totally, 148 AD patients and 137non-dementia controls were recruited in this case-control study. Genotyping of rs11556218 T/Gpolymorphism was performed by PCR-RFLP method using the NdeI restriction enzyme.

Results: Statistical analysis of rs11556218 genotypes showed a protective effect against AD in the heterozygote genotype (p=0.001, OR=0.16(0.1-0.28)). Frequency of rs11556218 allele T was higher in patients than controls (p=0.001, OR=0.32(0.21-0.49)).

Conclusion: Our results indicate thatrs11556218 polymorphism has a protective role in the development of sporadic AD in Iranian population.