Relationship between serum cytokine and growth factor concentrations and coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND

We have assessed the association between serum concentrations of 12 cytokines/growth factors and angiographically-defined coronary artery disease, comparing the concentrations in four groups (one control group and three case groups).

METHODS

We studied a total of 426 subjects including; 98 control subjects and 3 case groups. The patient groups consisted of: coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) candidates (n=48) and patients undergoing coronary angiography, with, or without obstructive coronary artery disease. Twelve cytokines (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1, IFN-γ, EGF, and VEGF) were measured using a sandwich chemi-luminescence assays, on the Evidence Investigator® system.

RESULTS

The four groups were well matched for demographic and clinical characteristics, except waist circumference, fasting blood glucose (FBG), total and LDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure that were significantly higher in case groups compared to the control group (P<0.05 for all). There were significant differences between control group and the other three groups regarding the measured cytokines, such as IL-1α, IL-8, MCP-1, and VEGF (P<0.01). Furthermore, IL-4, IL-6 and EGF were also significantly different between the control, obstructive coronary disease and CABG candidate groups (P<0.01). Analysis of the ROC curve showed 92.1% sensitivity, 99.2% specificity and 100% positive predictive value (PPV) for VEGF in its ability to distinguish the CABG group at the cut-off point of 37.18 pg/ml.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-4, IL-8, IL-10 and VEGF may play major roles in pathogenesis of CAD.