Li Weidong, Li Shijie, Li Xianjin, Jiang Shuzhong, Han Bing
Department of Cardiology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Jiangsu, PR China.
Clin Cardiol. 2017 Feb;40(2):66-72. doi: 10.1002/clc.22630. Epub 2016 Nov 2.
Inflammation is closely related to atrial fibrillation (AF) pathogenesis, and interleukin-37 (IL-37) represents a new member of the anti-inflammatory cytokines.
IL-37 might play an important role in AF development and act as a potential risk factor for AF diagnosis.
The mRNA level of IL-37 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum IL-37 levels in AF patients and healthy controls were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). PBMCs from AF patients were stimulated with recombinant IL-37. Levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and C-reactive protein were determined by RT-PCR and ELISA.
IL-37 mRNAs and serum protein levels were higher in patients with AF or lone AF compared with healthy controls. Patients with paroxysmal AF or persistent AF showed higher IL-37 mRNAs and serum protein levels compared with those with permanent AF as well as healthy controls. In vitro, IL-37 inhibited the production of IL-6 and C-reactive protein in PBMCs of patients with AF.
IL-37 is elevated in AF patients and its expression is closely associated with AF subgroups. Thus, IL-37 may provide a novel research target for the pathogenesis and therapy of AF. This study is the first to document elevated IL-37 in AF patients.
炎症与心房颤动（AF）的发病机制密切相关，白细胞介素-37（IL-37）是抗炎细胞因子的新成员。
IL-37可能在AF发展中起重要作用，并作为AF诊断的潜在危险因素。
通过实时聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）和酶联免疫吸附测定（ELISA）测量AF患者和健康对照外周血单个核细胞（PBMC）中IL-37的mRNA水平和血清IL-37水平。用重组IL-37刺激AF患者的PBMC。通过RT-PCR和ELISA测定促炎细胞因子IL-6和C反应蛋白的水平。
与健康对照相比，AF患者或孤立性AF患者的IL-37 mRNA和血清蛋白水平更高。阵发性AF或持续性AF患者的IL-37 mRNA和血清蛋白水平高于永久性AF患者以及健康对照。在体外，IL-37抑制AF患者PBMC中IL-6和C反应蛋白的产生。
AF患者中IL-37升高，其表达与AF亚组密切相关。因此，IL-37可能为AF的发病机制和治疗提供新的研究靶点。本研究首次记录了AF患者中IL-37升高。
