Stromelysin-1 and interleukin-6 gene promoter polymorphisms are determinants of asymptomatic carotid artery atherosclerosis.
The functional 5A/6A polymorphism of the stromelysin-1 promoter has been implicated as a potential genetic marker for the progression of angiographically determined atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease. Recently, a novel interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene functional G/C polymorphism at -174 in the promoter has also been reported. In this study, we analyzed the relation of these two polymorphisms with carotid artery atherosclerosis in 109 randomly selected, middle-aged men without exercise-induced ischemia. Atherosclerosis was quantified as intima-media thickness (IMT) by high-resolution ultrasonography. Univariately, stromelysin genotype was significantly (P:=0.015) associated with IMT, and this relation remained (P:=0.033) after adjustments for age, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index, smoking, LDL cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure and for sonographers. The 5A/6A polymorphism independently explained 7% of the variance in carotid bifurcation IMT. The IL-6 polymorphism was also significantly associated (P:=0. 036) with increased IMT, with men homozygous for the G allele having IMT that was 11% greater than men homozygous for the C allele. Men who were homozygous for both the 6A and G alleles had an covariate adjusted IMT that was 36% greater than men who were homozygous for neither allele (P:<0.003). These data suggest that genetic factors that predispose to reduced matrix remodeling (stromelysin 6A allele) and to increased inflammation (IL-6 G allele) combine to increase susceptibility for intima-media thickening in the carotid bifurcation, a predilection site for atherosclerosis.
Rauramaa
R
R
Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine and the Department of Physiology, University of Kuopio (Finland). rainer.rauramaa@messi.uku.fi
Väisänen
S B
SB
Luong
L A
LA
Schmidt-Trücksäss
A
A
Penttilä
I M
IM
Bouchard
C
C
Töyry
J
J
Humphries
S E
SE
D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005080:Exercise Test; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015850:Interleukin-6; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3