The association of interleukin-16 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility of coronary artery disease

Abstract

Objectives: Recent studies have shown that interleukin (IL)-16 is an immunomodulatory cytokine, which plays an important role in some inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. We aimed to investigate the association between the IL-16 gene polymorphisms and presence of coronary artery disease (CAD) where inflammatory processes are involved.

Designs and methods: This case-control study enrolled 651 CAD patients confirmed by coronary angiography and 428 controls. Four tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs8034928-rs3848180-rs4577037-rs1131445) within the IL-16 gene and the related haplotypes were genotyped by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Plasma IL-16 concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: In patients with CAD, the plasma concentration of IL-16 was significantly higher than in controls (97.6±10.7, 66.5±9.6, respectively P<0.001). By using multivariate logistic regression analysis, the allele and genotype frequencies of rs8034928 were different between CAD and control groups (P<0.001). However, the associations of the polymorphisms rs3848180, rs4577037, and rs1131445 with CAD were not observed. The haplotypes TTTT and TGGT significantly increased risk to CAD (OR, 95% CI: 1.43, 1.26-1.63; 1.47, 1.16-1.85; respectively), whereas the haplotypes CTTT and TTGT referred to protection of CAD (OR, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.33-0.62; 0.50, 0.33-0.76; respectively).

Conclusion: The study indicated that the IL-16 rs8034928 T/C polymorphism and haplotypes were associated with the presence of CAD in Chinese Han population. The IL-16 gene polymorphisms may be a useful predictor to the susceptibility of CAD.