BACKGROUND: Cytokines play an important role in mediating inflammatory-proliferative responses, including atherosclerosis. Alterations in the plasma levels of cytokines in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) remain to be examined. OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible alterations in the plasma levels of cytokines in patients with IHD and in controls. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with IHD and 16 controls were studied. The cytokines measured in our study included interleukin-6, macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (MCSF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and seven other major cytokines. The measurements were performed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The MCSF levels were significantly higher in patients with IHD than they were in controls (P < 0.01), whereas the TGF-beta levels were significantly lower in patients with IHD than they were in controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, the levels of MCSF and those of TGF-beta were correlated negatively (P < 0.05). The interleukin-6 levels tended to be higher in patients with unstable angina. The plasma levels of other cytokines were below the detection levels in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: Results from studies in vitro suggested that the process of atherosclerosis is accelerated and inhibited by MCSF and TGF-beta, respectively. The present results thus suggest that the alterations in the plasma levels of MCSF and TGF-beta may be involved in the pathogenesis of IHD in humans.
BACKGROUND: Cytokines play an important role in mediating inflammatory-proliferative responses, including atherosclerosis. Alterations in the plasma levels of cytokines in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) remain to be examined. OBJECTIVE: To examine the possible alterations in the plasma levels of cytokines in patients with IHD and in controls. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with IHD and 16 controls were studied. The cytokines measured in our study included interleukin-6, macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (MCSF), transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta), and seven other major cytokines. The measurements were performed by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The MCSF levels were significantly higher in patients with IHD than they were in controls (P < 0.01), whereas the TGF-beta levels were significantly lower in patients with IHD than they were in controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, the levels of MCSF and those of TGF-beta were correlated negatively (P < 0.05). The interleukin-6 levels tended to be higher in patients with unstable angina. The plasma levels of other cytokines were below the detection levels in most cases. CONCLUSIONS: Results from studies in vitro suggested that the process of atherosclerosis is accelerated and inhibited by MCSF and TGF-beta, respectively. The present results thus suggest that the alterations in the plasma levels of MCSF and TGF-beta may be involved in the pathogenesis of IHD in humans.
Authors: H Song; H Tasaki; A Yashiro; K Yamashita; T Toyokawa; Y Nagai; H Takatsu; H Taniguchi; Y Nakashima Journal: Heart Date: 2001-10 Impact factor: 5.994
Authors: L S Rallidis; M G Zolindaki; P C Pentzeridis; K P Poulopoulos; A H Velissaridou; T S Apostolou Journal: Heart Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 5.994
Authors: Roberto H Heinisch; Carlos R Zanetti; Fabiano Comin; Juliano L Fernandes; José A Ramires; Carlos V Serrano Journal: Vasc Health Risk Manag Date: 2005
Authors: Beatriz D Schaan; Alexandre S Quadros; Rogério Sarmento-Leite; Giuseppe De Lucca; Alexandra Bender; Marcello Bertoluci Journal: Cardiovasc Diabetol Date: 2007-07-25 Impact factor: 9.951