<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic inflammation may play a central role in both diseases. Interleukin (IL)-18 is a potent proinflammatory cytokine, which is considered important in acute coronary syndromes and type 2 diabetes. We investigated the association of the -137 (G>C), polymorphism (rs187238) and the -607 (C&lt;A) polymorphism (rs1946518) of the IL-18 gene promoter region in 495 Caucasians with type 2 diabetes, of whom 169 had MI and 326 subjects had no clinically evident coronary artery disease (controls). We also investigated the impact of these polymorphisms on the serum IL-18 level in subsets of both groups and in a normal group. Genotype distributions of the polymorphisms showed no significant difference between cases and controls. However, IL-18 serum levels were significantly lower in diabetics with the137 CC genotype than in those with other genotypes (241.5 ± 132.7 ng/L <italic>vs.</italic> 340.2 ± 167.4 ng/L; p &lt;0.05). High sensitivity C-reactive protein and IL-18 serum levels were higher in diabetics in the MI group than in the control group. We conclude that these IL-18 promoter gene polymorphisms are not risk factors for MI in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes.</p></abstract>

Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic inflammation may play a central role in both diseases. Interleukin (IL)-18 is a potent proinflammatory cytokine, which is considered important in acute coronary syndromes and type 2 diabetes. We investigated the association of the -137 (G>C), polymorphism (rs187238) and the -607 (C<A) polymorphism (rs1946518) of the IL-18 gene promoter region in 495 Caucasians with type 2 diabetes, of whom 169 had MI and 326 subjects had no clinically evident coronary artery disease (controls). We also investigated the impact of these polymorphisms on the serum IL-18 level in subsets of both groups and in a normal group. Genotype distributions of the polymorphisms showed no significant difference between cases and controls. However, IL-18 serum levels were significantly lower in diabetics with the137 CC genotype than in those with other genotypes (241.5 ± 132.7 ng/L vs. 340.2 ± 167.4 ng/L; p <0.05). High sensitivity C-reactive protein and IL-18 serum levels were higher in diabetics in the MI group than in the control group. We conclude that these IL-18 promoter gene polymorphisms are not risk factors for MI in Caucasians with type 2 diabetes.

Interleukin-18 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms are not Associated with Myocardial Infarction in Type 2 Diabetes in Slovenia

Department of Internal Medicine, General Hospital Izola, Polje 35, Izola 6310, Slovenia

Medical Faculty, Institute of Histology and Embryology, Slovenia

Balkan Journal of Medical Genetics

Type 2 diabetes is a major risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic inflammation may play a central role in both diseases. Interleukin (IL)-18 is...

Interleukin-18 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms are not Associated with Myocardial Infarction in Type 2 Diabetes in Slovenia

Published Online: Jul 25, 2011

Page range: 3 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10034-011-0011-6

Keywords
Type 2 diabetes, Myocardial infarction (MI), Interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene polymorphisms

This content is open access.

Interleukin-18 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms are not Associated with Myocardial Infarction in Type 2 Diabetes in Slovenia

Published Online: Jul 25, 2011

Page range: 3 - 9

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10034-011-0011-6

KeywordsType 2 diabetes, Myocardial infarction (MI), Interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene polymorphisms

This content is open access.

Keywords
Type 2 diabetes, Myocardial infarction (MI), Interleukin-18 (IL-18) gene polymorphisms