Influence of IL-10 polymorphism on the development of coronary artery disease in Pakistan

Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the most frequent form of heart diseases. IL-10 is an antiinflammatory cytokine and down regulates the Th1 response by suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokine. There are interindividual variations in IL-10 production, which are genetically contributed by polymorphisms within IL- 10 promoter region.

Objectives: We investigated the association of IL-10 gene promoter -1082 G/A, -819 C/T, and -592 C/A polymorphism with CAD susceptibility in Pakistani individuals.

Methods: Ninety-three CAD patients and ninety-nine controls were enrolled in the study. IL-10 (-1,082 G/A, -819 C/T, -592 C/A) genotyping was performed by amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (ARMS-PCR).

Results: There is an indication that IL-10 -1082 GG (p = 0.033, OR = 0.26, 95%, CI = 0.07-0.97) has positive association while -1082 GA (p = 0.031, OR = 2.7, 95%, CI = 1.07-6.90) has negative association with CAD. IL-10 -819 TT (-592 AA) were significantly higher in control than in patients (p = 0.008, OR= 3.1, 95%, CI = 1.09-9.02). We have not found any significant association between IL-10 alleles and haplotypes and CAD. GTA/ATA was the diplotype, which showed the protective effect (p = 0.006, OR = 3.6, 95%, CI = 1.16-10.57) in CAD susceptibility.

Conclusion:We found a significant distributional variation in IL-10 promoter SNPs in healthy individuals and the disease group. This difference may be manifested in IL-10 production and disturb the pro- and anti- inflammatory cytokine balance hence influencing the susceptibility of CAD.