title: Increased IL18 mRNA levels in peripheral artery disease and its association with triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels: a pilot study.
abstract: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) typically refers to lower limb vessel ischemia caused by atherosclerotic stenosis of lower extremity arteries. IL18 is a pleiotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine reported to function as an inflammatory biomarker in cardiovascular diseases. IL18 activity is balanced by high-affinity naturally occurring IL18-binding protein (IL18BP). This study aimed to determine whether IL18, IL18 BP mRNA levels and -137 G/C (rs187238) polymorphism, which was previously associated with IL18 gene transcriptional activity, were associated with PAD etiology. IL18, IL18BP mRNA levels from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and -137 G/C (rs187238) polymorphism were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and RT-PCR, respectively, in 55 PAD patients (26 aorta-iliac, 29 femoro-popliteal) and 61 disease-free controls. IL18 mRNA levels were increased in PAD patients compared with healthy controls (p = 0.09); however, did not reach a statistical significant level, also did not significantly differ between aorta-iliac and femoro-popliteal occlusive PAD subgroups (p = 0.285). However, IL18BP mRNA levels were significantly lower in PAD group compared with controls (p < 0.001). Genotype frequencies of rs187238 polymorphism did not significantly differ between PAD patients and controls (p = 0.385). IL18 mRNA levels were significantly correlated with triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels in PAD patients (p = 0.003, p = 0.014, respectively). HDL cholesterol levels were negatively correlated with IL18 mRNA levels in controls (p = 0.05). This report is a preliminary study to show an association between IL18, IL18BP mRNA levels and PAD and suggests that the IL18 gene may have a significant relationship with triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels in PAD patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty, 19 Mayis University, Samsun, 55139, Turkey. sbd983@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Serkan Burc
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Deser
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burcu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bayoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kazım
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Besirli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mujgan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cengiz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Berk
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arapi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Yerik
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Junusbekov
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirican
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Caner
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arslan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D014421:Turkey; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; C000589760:IL18 protein, human; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020382:Interleukin-18; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014280:Triglycerides; C118370:interleukin-18 binding protein
keywords: Genetic polymorphism; IL18; IL18BP; Peripheral artery disease; mRNA levels