title: Interleukin-37 elevation in patients with atrial fibrillation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inflammation is closely related to atrial fibrillation (AF) pathogenesis, and interleukin-37 (IL-37) represents a new member of the anti-inflammatory cytokines.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  IL-37 might play an important role in AF development and act as a potential risk factor for AF diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The mRNA level of IL-37 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum IL-37 levels in AF patients and healthy controls were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PBMCs from AF patients were stimulated with recombinant IL-37. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and C-reactive protein were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IL-37 mRNAs and serum protein levels were higher in patients with AF or lone AF compared with healthy controls. Patients with paroxysmal AF or persistent AF showed higher IL-37 mRNAs and serum protein levels compared with those with permanent AF as well as healthy controls. In vitro, IL-37 inhibited the production of IL-6 and C-reactive protein in PBMCs of patients with AF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IL-37 is elevated in AF patients and its expression is closely associated with AF subgroups. Thus, IL-37 may provide a novel research target for the pathogenesis and therapy of AF. This study is the first to document elevated IL-37 in AF patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Weidong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Shijie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Xianjin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuzhong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: C508587:IL37 protein, human; D007375:Interleukin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: AF; Atrial Fibrillation; IL-37; Inflammation; Interleukin-37