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Daniel Kelberman, E. Hawe, L. A. Luong, Vidya Mohamed-Ali, Pia Lundman, Per Tornvall, M. F. Aillaud, Irne Juhan-Vague, John S. Yudkin, Maurizio Margaglione, Giovanni di Minno, Elena Tremoli, Stephen E. Humphries
Effect of Interleukin-6 promoter polymorphisms in survivors of myocardial infarction and matched controls in the North and South of Europe. The HIFMECH Study
Elevated plasma IL-6 levels have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease. We have investigated the association of two polymorphisms in the promoter of IL-6 (572G>C and 174G>C) with levels of inflammatory markers and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in a European study of MI survivors and age-matched controls from two high-risk centres in the North of Europe, and two low risk centres in the South. IL-6 and CRP levels were similar in controls in both regions, but were higher in cases. For the 174G>C polymorphism the rare 174C allele showed a regional difference in allele frequency, being more common in the North European group (0.43 vs 0.28; p < 0.0005), where 174C allele carriers showed an apparent reduced risk of MI compared to 174GG homozygotes (OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.32, 0.86). No such effect was observed in the South or with the 572G>C in either group. Neither genotype was associated with a significant effect on plasma IL-6 levels in either cases or controls. Furthermore, no regional difference was observed in the frequency of the 572G>C SNP, suggesting that these polymorphisms are unlikely to be contributing to the observed increased risk of cardiovascular disease in Northern Europe.
Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Schattauer
Print ISSN: 0340-6245
Volume: 92, 11/2004
Pages: 1122 - 1128