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

ObjectivesRecent 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 MethodsThis 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.ResultsIn 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).ConclusionThe 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.

► IL-16 gene polymorphisms is associated with risk of coronary artery disease.
► Four haplotypes in IL-16 gene may be related to coronary artery disease.
► The plasma IL-16 levels were significant higher in the CAD patients.
► IL-16 gene polymorphisms may be useful as genetic susceptibility markers for CAD.