The correlation between genotypes at the position-889C/T in the promoter of interleukin-1 alpha and the severity of coronary heart disease

Objective To investigate the correlation between the different genotypes at the position -889 in the promoter of interleukin-1 alpha(IL-1α) and the severity of coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods The genotypes of IL-1α(-889C/T)in 118 CHD patients and 184 healthy controls were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), and The serum level of IL-1α was detected by enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. Results The distribution of IL-1α (-889C/T) genotypes between myocardial infarction(MI) patients and healthy controls was significantly different (χ 2=5.96, P 0.01). CT or TT genotype carriers were at increased risk with an odds ratio of 2.39 for MI(OR=2.39, 95%CI=1.17～4.86). In CHD group, the IL-1α level in patients with CT genotype (13.51±6.85) ng/L was significantly higher than those with CC genotype[(8.04±4.47) ng/L; P 0.001].Conclusion The CT genotype at position -889 in IL-1α is associated with the severity of CHD, and the DNA mutation at this position will probably affect the secretion of IL-1α.