Comparison of serum levels of inflammatory markers and allelic variant of interleukin-6 in patients with acute coronary syndrome and stable angina pectoris.
OBJECTIVE
Although the relationship between atherosclerosis and inflammatory cells has been recognized in recent years, the effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) genetic variants associated with atherosclerosis is still controversial. Therefore, we investigated the association between IL-6 polymorphism and levels of IL-6 in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).


METHODS
We conducted a case-control study on 294 unrelated participants who were referred to the cardiology department of the university hospital for coronary angiography because of suspected ischemic heart disease. Group I comprised patients with clinically acute coronary syndrome, and group II comprised patients (individuals matched for age and sex) with clinically stable angina pectoris; both groups were categorized, based on their angiographic findings, as either having angiographically documented less extensive CAD (1 vessel narrowed) or extensive CAD (> or =2 vessels narrowed). They were studied to examine effect of the IL-6 gene variants in CAD. Genotyping was determined by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The IL-6 G/C-174 polymorphism was found in 19 of 106 (18%) in group I and in four of 188 (2%) in group II (P<0.001). Median IL-6 levels were significantly higher in group I (6.7+/-13.6 pg/ml) than in group II (4.1+/-3.8 pg/ml) (P<0.05). In addition, high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels were significantly higher in group I (8.2+/-6.2 mg/dl) than in group II (4.6+/-3.4 mg/dl) (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrated that the presence of the IL-6 G/C-174 polymorphism and increased IL-6 and high sensitivity C-reactive protein levels are strongly associated with the inflammatory system and the course of clinical and hemodynamically significant CAD.
Ozdemir
Oznur
O
Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ataturk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
Gundogdu
Fuat
F
Karakelleoglu
Sule
S
Sevimli
Serdar
S
Pirim
Ibrahim
I
Acikel
Mahmut
M
Arslan
Sakir
S
Serdar
Serkan
S
D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein