Is there a correlation between -174(G/C) polymorphism of IL-6 gene and the incidence of acute myocardial infarction?

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the major cause of death worldwide. Most CVD can be prevented by addressing risk factors. Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is an inflammatory disorder characterized by changes in several cytokines including the interleukins (ILs). Studies are running to evaluate the genetic variation in the inflammatory system and their influence on the risk factors for CVD aiming for future prevention of this global disease. The aim of the current study was too investigate the association of -174 (G/C) IL-6 polymorphism with the incidence of AMI in a representative sector of the Egyptian population and to examine the contribution of IL-6, as a biomarker, in the pathogenesis of AMI. Genotyping of -174 (G/C) IL-6 polymorphism was done by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) while IL-6 levels were assayed by ELISA. RESULTS: The genotype distribution of -174 (G/C) IL-6 gene was not significantly different between the control subjects (GG 81.7%, GC 16.3%, CC 1.9%) and the AMI patients (GG 79%, GC 19%, CC 2%).The serum levels of IL-6 were significantly elevated in the AMI patients in comparison to the control subjects (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: There is no significant association of -174(G/C) polymorphism in the promoter sequence of IL-6 and the incidence of AMI in the examined sample of Egyptian population. Elevated levels of serum IL-6 confirmed the relationship between inflammation and the incidence of AMI.