Serum levels and clinical significance of IFN-γ and IL-10 in patients with coronary heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate the relationship of IFN-γ and IL-10 with the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease (CHD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 128 patients with angiographically confirmed CHD were included in CHD group, while 106 patients with no angiographically confirmed coronary artery stenosis were included in the control group. The age and body mass index of patients were documented. Concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were measured. Moreover, serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-10 were determined by ELISA and mRNA levels of these two factors were measured by quantitative RT-PCR.

RESULTS: Compared to those of controls, concentrations of TG and LDL-C were significantly higher (p < 0.01) whereas HDL-C concentrations were significantly lower in CHD patients (p < 0.001). Correlation analysis revealed that serum IFN-γ level was significantly positively correlated with TG concentration in CHD patients (r = 0.560, p < 0.05), while the IL-10 level was negatively correlated with TG concentration (r = -0.411, p < 0.05). Both protein level and mRNA level of IFN-γ were higher in the serum of CHD patients than in controls. However, the protein level and mRNA level of IL-10 were significantly lower in CHD patients than in controls (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: IFN-γ and IL-10 are involved in the development of atherosclerosis of coronary artery and IL-10 may inhibit atherogenesis.