title: Chemokine CXC Ligand 16 serum concentration but not A181V genotype is associated with atherosclerotic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum chemokine CXC Ligand 16 (CXCL16) concentration is associated with atherosclerosis and CXCL16 expression may be influenced by the polymorphism, A181V. We established whether serum CXCL16 concentration or the A181V genotype is more strongly associated with atherosclerotic stroke and its associated risk factor, carotid atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  PCR-RFLP was used to genotype 244 atherosclerotic stroke patients (AS group), 153 stroke-free controls (patient controls) and 167 healthy controls. Serum CXCL16 concentration was determined for a subset of patients (n=135) and all controls. The same subset of patients was then examined using ultrasound to evaluate their carotid atherosclerotic lesions, including intima-media thickness (IMT), plaque stability and carotid plaque area (CPA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the patient controls and healthy controls, serum CXCL16 concentration was significantly increased in the AS group (P<0.05, and 0.01). It was also strongly associated with increased IMT, vulnerable plaque and increased CPA (P<0.05, <0.001, and <0.01). However, the CXCL16 A181V genotype distribution and allele frequencies showed no differences between AS and control groups, nor did it influence serum CXCL16 concentration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum CXCL16 concentration is significantly associated with atherosclerotic stroke and carotid atherosclerosis, suggesting that this biochemical test may be useful to identify patients at increased risk of atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
authors.forename: Ke-di
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Rui-min
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ya-jie
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Guo-jun
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-rong
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Xi-xiong
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000075743:Chemokine CXCL16; D019743:Chemokines, CXC / Q000097:blood*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger / Q000097:blood*; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: C423727:CXCL16 protein, human; D000075743:Chemokine CXCL16; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger