Interleukin-6 gene polymorphism is an age-dependent risk factor for myocardial infarction in men.
Several studies show that inflammatory components may contribute to atherosclerosis and increase the risk for myocardial infarction (MI). Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a key pro-inflammatory and immune-modulatory cytokine of relevance for cardiovascular diseases. In this case-control study, 200 patients with MI and 257 healthy controls were genotyped for the polymorphism present in -174 promoter region of the IL-6 gene. Plasma concentrations of IL-6 and C-reactive protein (CRP) in a group of patients and controls were measured. The -174 C allele was associated with an increased risk of developing MI (OR = 2.886, c.i. = 1.801-4.624, P = 0.0001) in older patients, while no association was found in younger ones. The IL-6 plasma levels were higher in patients with MI carrying the CC genotype than in GG patients (CC carriers, IL-6 = 2.97 pg mL(-1) vs. GG carriers = 1.81 pg mL(-1), P = 0.016). A positive correlation of IL-6 levels with those of CRP in serum from patients with MI was also found. Data from this study suggest that the C allele of the promoter polymorphism in the IL-6 gene is a risk factor for MI in the elderly, and the production of the IL-6 is differentially affected by different genotypes of the IL-6 -174 promoter polymorphism.
Chiappelli
M
M
Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126 Bologna, Italy. martinachiappelli@libero.it
Tampieri
C
C
Tumini
E
E
Porcellini
E
E
Caldarera
C M
CM
Nanni
S
S
Branzi
A
A
Lio
D
D
Caruso
M
M
Hoffmann
E
E
Caruso
C
C
Licastro
F
F
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein