Association between Genetic Polymorphisms and Coronary Artery Disease in Egyptian Patients

Abstract

Aim of the study: To evaluate the level of IL-18 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine and to investigate the potential associations ofthe two IL-18 promoter gene polymorphisms at positions (-607C/A) and (-137G/C), ACE (I/D) and AGT (M235T) gene polymorphisms with coronary artery disease. Subjects: A total of one hundred and twenty Egyptian patients (Sixty with CAD and sixty without CAD) and fifty healthy control subjects were included in the study. Methods: Genotyping of IL-18 promoter gene at (-607C/A) and (-137G/C) regions, ACE (I/D)and AGT (M235T) were analyzed by Polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR), Lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-C) were measured by enzymatic colorimetric method. Serum IL-6 and IL-18 levels were determined using ELISA. Results: Our data indicated that IL-18 (137 GG) was significantly associated with CAD, whereas a non- significant association was observed in IL-18 (607C/A) between cases and controls. Also, there was a significant association between ACE (DD) and AGT (TT) polymorphisms and CAD. Furthermore, a significant association between lipid profiles (TC, TG and LDL-C) and risk for CAD was occurred. Elevation of serum IL-6 and IL-18 levels was observed in CAD patients. Conclusion: Our study suggests that an association between IL-18 (137G/C) promoter gene polymorphism, ACE (I/D) and AGT (M235T) polymorphisms and susceptibility to CAD in Egyptian patients. The present study showing a strong association between dyslipidemia as an important risk factor of atherosclerosis and CAD.A markedly high level of IL-6 and IL-18 in patients with CAD, based on which suggests that IL-6 and IL-18 may be served as susceptibility biomarkers in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in CAD patients.