Interleukin-10 serum levels and systemic endothelial vasoreactivity in patients with coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
Because the endothelium is a major target for inflammatory cytokines, we investigated whether elevated interleukin (IL)-10 serum levels are associated with improved endothelial vasoreactivity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).


BACKGROUND
Chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Interleukin-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that exerts important protective effects on atherosclerotic lesion development in experimental animals.


METHODS
Vasoreactivity was assessed in 65 male patients with documented CAD by measuring endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine [ACh] 10 to 50 microg/min) and endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside [SNP] 2 to 8 microg/min) forearm blood flow (FBF) responses using venous occlusion plethysmography.


RESULTS
Serum levels of IL-10 were significantly correlated with ACh-induced FBF responses (r = 0.31, p < 0.02), but not with SNP responses. Importantly, if IL-10 serum levels were increased in patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, no impairment of ACh-stimulated FBF response was observed. On multivariate analysis, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, clinical status of the patients, and statin and/or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment, only IL-10 (p < 0.02) and CRP serum levels (p < 0.02) were significant independent predictors of ACh-induced FBF responses.


CONCLUSIONS
Thus, increased IL-10 serum levels are associated with improved systemic endothelial vasoreactivity in patients with elevated CRP serum levels, demonstrating that the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators is a major determinant of endothelial function in patients with CAD.
Fichtlscherer
Stephan
S
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Cardiology, Johann W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. fichtlscherer@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Breuer
Susanne
S
Heeschen
Christopher
C
Dimmeler
Stefanie
S
Zeiher
Andreas M
AM
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D016753:Interleukin-10; D009599:Nitroprusside; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D000109:Acetylcholine