Association between inflammatory markers and the interleukin-6 -174 G/C polymorphism is abolished in peripheral arterial occlusive disease.
OBJECTIVE
The interleukin-6 (IL-6) -174 G/C polymorphism has been reported to determine IL-6 levels and contribute to the development of cardiovascular disorders. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of the IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism on hemostatic or inflammatory markers in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD), a common manifestation of obliterative atherosclerosis.


METHODS
Plasma IL-6, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), tissue plasminogen activator, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), fibrinopeptide A and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels were determined in PAOD patients (n=50) and healthy controls (n=30) genotyped for the IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism.


RESULTS
In the control group, IL-6, CRP and fibrinogen levels were significantly associated with the IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism with a gene-dosage effect being the highest in the CC subjects and the lowest in those with the GG genotype (P<0.0001, P=0.0002 and P=0.0001, respectively). Interestingly, the CC homozygotes had lower PAI-1 levels than carriers of the G allele (P=0.04). In PAOD patients, the IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism had no effect on all the variables measured.


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to apparently healthy subjects, the IL-6 -174 G/C polymorphism showed no association with plasma IL-6, CRP, fibrinogen and PAI-1 levels in PAOD patients.
Potaczek
D P
DP
Department of Medicine, Jagiellonian University School of Medicine, Cracow, Poland.
Undas
A
A
Nowakowski
T
T
Szczeklik
A
A
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001779:Blood Coagulation Factors; D015850:Interleukin-6