title: Interleukin-15 and soluble interleukin-15 receptor α in coronary artery disease patients: association with epicardial fat and indices of adipose tissue distribution.
abstract: Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which signals via a specific alpha receptor subunit (IL-15Rα). Increased IL-15 level has been observed in cardiovascular patients and IL-15 immunoreactivity has been detected at vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques. Due to the association between adipose tissue distribution, inflammation and coronary artery disease (CAD), we quantified IL-15 and IL-15Rα in CAD patients with different adiposity and adipose tissue distribution and we evaluated whether epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a visceral fat depot surrounding and infiltrating myocardium, may be a source of both molecules. IL-15 and IL-15Rα proteins were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Gene expression of IL-15 and IL-15Rα in EAT depots was evaluated by one colour microarray platform. EAT thickness was measured by echocardiography. Plasmatic IL-15 and IL-15Rα levels were higher in CAD than non-CAD patients. After classification according to adipose tissue distribution, IL-15 was higher in CAD patients with increased abdominal adiposity. Increased level of IL-15Rα was observed both in CAD and non-CAD patients with increased abdominal fat. EAT was a source of IL-15 and IL-15Rα and their expression was higher in CAD patients with increased EAT thickness. In conclusion, our data suggest that circulating levels of IL-15 and IL-15Rα seem to reflect visceral distribution of adipose tissue and that EAT may be a potential source of both IL-15 and IL-15Rα. Future studies on the relationship between IL-15, visceral fat and characteristics of atherosclerotic plaques could help to better understand the complex biology of this cytokine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Chair of Clinical Pathology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dozio
authors.affiliation: Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alexis Elias
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Malavazos
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Chair of Clinical Pathology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vianello
authors.affiliation: Diabetology and Metabolic Diseases Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Briganti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Chair of Clinical Pathology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giada
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dogliotti
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bandera
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Giacomazzi
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Serenella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castelvecchio
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Surgery Unit, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Menicanti
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sigrüener
authors.affiliation: Institute for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schmitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Chair of Clinical Pathology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; Service of Laboratory Medicine 1-Clinical Pathology, Department of Health Services of Diagnosis and Treatment-Laboratory Medicine, I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Donato, San Donato Milanese, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimiliano Marco
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Corsi Romanelli
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000235:genetics; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D050218:Body Fat Distribution; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D053720:Interleukin-15 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: C569274:IL15 protein, human; D019409:Interleukin-15; D053720:Interleukin-15 Receptor alpha Subunit