Stromelysin-1 and interleukin-6 gene promoter polymorphisms are determinants of asymptomatic carotid artery atherosclerosis.

Abstract

The functional 5A/6A polymorphism of the stromelysin-1 promoter has been implicated as a potential genetic marker for the progression of angiographically determined atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease. Recently, a novel interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene functional G/C polymorphism at -174 in the promoter has also been reported. In this study, we analyzed the relation of these two polymorphisms with carotid artery atherosclerosis in 109 randomly selected, middle-aged men without exercise-induced ischemia. Atherosclerosis was quantified as intima-media thickness (IMT) by high-resolution ultrasonography. Univariately, stromelysin genotype was significantly (P:=0.015) associated with IMT, and this relation remained (P:=0.033) after adjustments for age, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index, smoking, LDL cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure and for sonographers. The 5A/6A polymorphism independently explained 7% of the variance in carotid bifurcation IMT. The IL-6 polymorphism was also significantly associated (P:=0. 036) with increased IMT, with men homozygous for the G allele having IMT that was 11% greater than men homozygous for the C allele. Men who were homozygous for both the 6A and G alleles had an covariate adjusted IMT that was 36% greater than men who were homozygous for neither allele (P:<0.003). These data suggest that genetic factors that predispose to reduced matrix remodeling (stromelysin 6A allele) and to increased inflammation (IL-6 G allele) combine to increase susceptibility for intima-media thickening in the carotid bifurcation, a predilection site for atherosclerosis.

• Authors: R Rauramaa, S B Väisänen, L A Luong, A Schmidt-Trücksäss, I M Penttilä, C Bouchard, J Töyry, S E Humphries
• Journal: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology (Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol) Vol. 20 Issue 12 Pg. 2657-62 (Dec 2000) ISSN: 1524-4636 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 11116068 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interleukin-6
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3

Topics

• Carotid Stenosis (diagnostic imaging, epidemiology, genetics)
• Electrocardiography
• Exercise Test
• Finland (epidemiology)
• Genetic Variation
• Genotype
• Homozygote
• Humans
• Interleukin-6 (genetics)
• Male
• Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (genetics)
• Middle Aged
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Promoter Regions, Genetic
• Ultrasonography