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Background: The associations between rs6887695 and 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) withininterleukin-12B(IL-12B) and autoimmune diseases (ADs) remain controversial and inconclusive. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association betweenIL-12B(3′-UTR A/C and rs6887695 C/G SNPs) and ADs by meta-analysis.Methods: PubMed and EMBASE were exhaustively searched for studies on the association betweenIL-12BSNPs and ADs. Publication bias was examined by a funnel plot and Egger’s test. The robustness of the pooled results was assessed by sensitivity analysis. A fixed- or a random-effects model was applied to calculate the pooled odds ratios (ORs).Results: A total of 34 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled results demonstrated thatIL-12Brs6887695 SNPs were significantly associated with the risk of ADs. However, there was no significant association betweenIL-12B3′-UTR SNPs and ADs. When the studies were stratified by ethnicity, significant association betweenIL-12B3′-UTR SNPs and ADs was observed in both Asian and European population. In addition, allele A within 3′-UTR ofIL-12Bgene was found to be a protective factor for T1DM, but a risk factor for psoriasis.Conclusion:TheIL-12B3′-UTR and rs6887695 SNPs are associated with susceptibility to ADs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]