Transcriptional Activity of Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Genes and Their Receptors in Patients with Varying Degrees of Coronary Artery Disease.

Coronary artery disease and its complications are one of the most common causes of morbidity and death worldwide. The aims of this study were to assess the transcriptional activity of the studied TNF-α genes and their receptors in patients with various degrees of coronary artery disease and in the control group, as well as to attempt to link it with the size of the left ventricular ejection fraction and the number of diseased coronary arteries. Taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 240 people (100%) qualified for this study. For proper interpretation of the results of the molecular analyzes, the study group (240, 100%) was divided into a control group (C: = 60; 25%), a group of patients with early coronary artery disease (W: = 60; 25%), a group with stable coronary artery disease (S: = 60; 25%), and a group of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS: = 60; 25%). The transcriptional activity of the TNF-α genes and their receptors was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The expression of the studied genes was inferred from the number of mRNA copies per 1 ug of total RNA. The analysis of the obtained results showed a significant increase in the transcriptional activity of the TNF-α gene with the severity of coronary artery disease, accompanied by a decrease in the activity of its receptor genes. Taking into account the number of affected coronary arteries and the size of the ejection fraction in the examined patients, there were no statistically significant differences in the transcriptional activity of the TNF-α receptor gene type I and II. The observed increase in the transcriptional activity of the TNF-α gene with a concomitant decrease in the activity of its receptor genes with the advancement of coronary artery disease, compared to the control group, may indicate their significant participation in the development and progression of the disease and constitute a useful marker in non-invasive, early diagnostics. In the patients of the study group, no changes in the transcriptional activity of the TNF-α genes and their receptors were demonstrated depending on the number of diseased coronary arteries and the size of the ejection fraction of the left ventricle.