Chemokine CXC Ligand 16 serum concentration but not A181V genotype is associated with atherosclerotic stroke.
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.
Wang
Ke-di
KD
Clinical Laboratory, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China.
Liu
Zhi-zhong
ZZ
Wang
Rui-min
RM
Wang
Ya-jie
YJ
Zhang
Guo-jun
GJ
Su
Jian-rong
JR
Kang
Xi-xiong
XX
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
C423727:CXCL16 protein, human; D000075743:Chemokine CXCL16; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger