title: Interleukin-6 gene polymorphism, chronic stress and atherosclerosis: interleukin-6-174G>C polymorphism, chronic stress and risk of early atherosclerosis in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interleukin-6 protein has been suggested as a mediator connecting chronic stress and cardiovascular diseases. We investigated whether the functional G174C polymorphism (rs1800795) of interleukin-6 gene is associated with vital exhaustion, a measure of chronic stress, or with preclinical atherosclerosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Associations between the interleukin-6-174G>C polymorphism, preclinical atherosclerosis, and vital exhaustion were examined in 1673 women and men aged 24-39years participating in the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns study. Vital exhaustion was measured using Maastricht Questionnaire. Preclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by carotid intima-media thickness using ultrasound techniques. DNA was genotyped for the interleukin-6-174G>C polymorphism (rs1800795).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GG genotype of the interleukin-6-174G>C polymorphism was associated with higher vital exhaustion. Moreover, higher vital exhaustion was associated with greater intima-media thickness in men carrying G alleles, adjusted for cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings support a role for the interleukin-6-174G>C polymorphism in increased risk of atherosclerosis in individuals with chronic stress. In addition, individuals carrying the G allele of the interleukin-6-174G>C polymorphism may be more prone to adverse effects of psychosocial stress.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chumaeva
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland; Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: mirka.hintsanen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Mirka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hintsanen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland; Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pulkki-Råback
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jokela
authors.affiliation: Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juonala
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Chemistry, Fimlab Laboratories, University of Tampere, School of Medicine, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Terho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lehtimäki
authors.affiliation: Research Centre of Applied and Preventive Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Turku, Finland; Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Olli T
authors.initials: OT
authors.lastname: Raitakari
authors.affiliation: Institute of Behavioural Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Liisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keltikangas-Järvinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C508600:IL6 protein, human; D015850:Interleukin-6
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Chronic stress; Gene polymorphism; Interleukin-6