Associations between Seven Common Cytokine Gene Polymorphisms and Coronary Artery Disease: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Associations of polymorphisms in interferon-gamma (IFNG), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-18 (IL-18) with coronary artery disease (CAD) have already been investigated by many studies, yet the findings of these studies have been somewhat inconsistent. Objectives: The aim of this meta-analysis was to better clarify associations between polymorphisms in IFNG/IL-10/IL-18 and CAD by combing the results of all relevant articles. Methods: Eligible articles were searched from PubMed, EMBASE, WOS, and CNKI. We used Review Manager to combine the results of indi­vidual studies. Results: Fifty-one studies were included in this meta-analysis. Combined results revealed that IFNG rs243056, IL-10rs1800871, IL-18rs187238, IL-18rs1946518, and IL-18rs1946519 polymorphisms were all significantly associated with CAD in the general population. We also obtained similar significant results for IFNG rs243056, IL-10rs1800871, IL-10 rs1800896, IL-18rs187238, IL-18rs1946518, and IL-18rs1946519 polymorphisms in Asians in further subgroup analyses. Conclusions: Collectively, this meta-analysis proved that IFNG rs243056, IL-10rs1800871, IL-10 rs1800896, IL-18rs187238, IL-18rs1946518, and IL-18rs1946519 polymorphisms may confer susceptibility to CAD for Asians.