Serum cytokine levels differ according to major cardiovascular risk factors in patients with lower limb atherosclerosis

Abstract

Different cardiovascular risk factors present a heterogenic manifestation of lower limb atherosclerosis. The molecular mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unknown. We aimed to clarify this phenomenon by studying the association of major cardiovascular risk factors with the profile of serum cytokines in 226 consecutive patients with lower limb atherosclerosis treated at a department of Vascular Surgery during a one-year enrollment period. Increasing age independently associated with higher levels of IFN-γ inducible factors MIG, CTACK and IP-10 (P < 0.001 for all). Patients with chronic kidney disease had higher serum levels of MIF, IL-16 and SCF (P = 0.001 or less for all). Smoking and hypertension associated with IL-17 (P = 0.037 and 0.015, respectively). In addition, smoking associated with growth factors known to induce myeloid progenitor cell proliferation: GM-CSF (P = 0.035), PDGF (P = 0.024), bFGF (P = 0.026), and HGF (P = 0.030). Dyslipidemia also associated with myeloproliferative factors: MIB-1α (P = 0.005) and PDGF (P = 0.01). Type II diabetes associated with Th2 mediated inflammation: IL-5 (P < 0.001), IL-7 (P = 0.004) and IL-13 (P = 0.015). Major cardiovascular risk factors are associated with different circulating cytokines implicating different immunological pathology.

Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular disease risk factors; Chemokines; Cytokines; Growth factors; Peripheral artery disease.