Effects of IL-6, adiponectin, CRP and metabolic syndrome on subclinical atherosclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Inflammation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Since there have been few studies elucidating gender-specific effect of inflammation and metabolic syndrome (MetS) on subclinical atherosclerosis, we evaluated the relative contribution of these factors in healthy subjects.


METHODS
MetS components, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) were evaluated in apparently healthy 714 men and 364 women (40-59 y). Serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and adiponectin were also examined.


RESULTS
Increase in number of clustering MetS components was more clearly associated with worsening of IMT and PWV in women than in men. Serum IL-6 level was positively correlated with IMT and PWV, and adiponectin level was negatively correlated with IMT in men but not in women. The subjects either with a "high" IL-6 or hs-CRP, or a "low" adiponectin were associated with increase in IMT in the presence of MetS, though there was no significant effect of MetS in those with low inflammation.


CONCLUSIONS
While IL-6 and adiponectin are the important risk factors for early arterial alterations in men, components of MetS present profound effects on subclinical atherosclerosis in women rather than in men.
Nishida
Makoto
M
Health Care Center, Osaka University, 1-17 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-0043, Japan.
Moriyama
Toshiki
T
Ishii
Kouki
K
Takashima
Seiji
S
Yoshizaki
Kazuyuki
K
Sugita
Yoshiro
Y
Yamauchi-Takihara
Keiko
K
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology
D052242:Adiponectin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein