Interleukin 37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory
cytokine expressed in foam cells located in the
atherosclerosis plaques. The present study aimed to evaluate the association of the IL-37 polymorphisms with premature
coronary artery disease (pCAD), cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic parameters, and levels of liver
enzymes. Three IL-37 polymorphisms (rs6717710, rs2708961, and rs2708947) were determined in 1161 patients with pCAD and 951 healthy controls. IL-37 polymorphisms were not associated with the presence of pCAD. The association of the polymorphisms with cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic parameters, and levels of liver
enzymes was evaluated independently in pCAD and healthy controls. In pCAD patients, under different models, the rs6717710 was associated with low risk of having elevated
alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (padditive = 0.020; pdominant = 0.02; pheterozygous = 0.04; pcodominant1 = 0.040). On the other hand, in healthy controls, the rs6717710 was associated with low risk of having elevated levels of
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (padditive = 0.04, precessive = 0.01, pcodominant2 = 0.01) and
aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (padditive = 0.02, pdominant = 0.02). The IL-37 polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of pCAD. In pCAD patients, the rs6717710 was associated with low risk of having elevated ALP levels, whereas in controls was associated with low risk of having elevated ALT and AST levels.