Interleukin-8 gene polymorphism is associated with acute coronary syndrome in the Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is one of the most common forms of heart disease. Recent studies have shown that interleukin (IL)-8 plays a key role in the development of atherosclerotic plaques, but the relationship between the common genetic variants of IL-8 and ACS has not been extensively studied.

METHODS

This case-control study in the Chinese Han population included 675 patients with ACS and 636 age- and sex-matched controls. We investigated IL-8 polymorphisms and their association with susceptibility to ACS. The investigation was replicated in the second study comprising 360 cases and 360 control subjects. The plasma concentration of IL-8 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

IL-8 -251 A/T polymorphism was associated with increased susceptibility to ACS (P=0.004; odds ratio=1.30; 95% confidence interval: 1.12-1.53). The second study yielded similar results. An increased IL-8 level was found in the plasma of acute myocardial infarction patients, suggesting that IL-8 -251 A/T may affect the expression of IL-8.

CONCLUSION

IL-8 -251 A/T polymorphism is associated with ACS risk in the Chinese Han population and the A allele of IL-8 -251 A/T may be an independent predictive factor for ACS.