Interleukin-6 promoter polymorphism and cardiovascular risk factors: the Health 2000 Survey.
OBJECTIVE
Inflammatory factors modify the risk of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. The single base genetic polymorphism in the promoter region of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL6 -174 G>C, rs1800795) is associated with the variation of IL-6 production. The aim of this study was to investigate whether IL6 -174 G>C is associated with the risk factors and early markers of atherosclerosis.


METHODS
As part of Finnish Health 2000 Study, we performed carotid artery ultrasound examinations, IL6 -174 G>C genotyping and cardiovascular risk factor determination for 1334 subjects aged 46-76 years.


RESULTS
In men, serum total cholesterol was higher in IL6 -174 GG (5.70+/-0.88mmol/L) than in the GC (5.51+/-0.98mmol/L) or CC (5.38+/-0.97mmol/L, mean+/-SD, p=0.0059) groups. The same order was seen in LDL-C (GG 3.64+/-0.83mmol/L, GC 3.41+/-0.88mmol/L, CC 3.30+/-0.91mmol/L, p=0.0017). The opposite association was observed with plasma fasting glucose levels (GG 5.93+/-0.97, GC 6.11+/-1.34, CC 6.34+/-1.59mmol/L, p=0.043) and BMI (GG 26.8+/-3.42, GC 27.5+/-4.32, CC 28.0+/-3.81kg/m(2), p=0.027). IL6 -174 allele C homozygous men indicated a trend towards higher systolic blood pressure. IL6 -174 G>C was not associated with carotid artery compliance, intima media thickness or CRP. The effect size of IL6 -174 G>C on cardiovascular risk factors was not significant in women. These results suggest that IL6 -174 G>C modifies the levels of several metabolic risk factors of atherosclerosis in men.
Riikola
Antti
A
The Medical School at the University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
Sipilä
Kalle
K
Kähönen
Mika
M
Jula
Antti
A
Nieminen
Markku S
MS
Moilanen
Leena
L
Kesäniemi
Y Antero
YA
Lehtimäki
Terho
T
Hulkkonen
Janne
J
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007328:Insulin; D015850:Interleukin-6; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002784:Cholesterol