Interleukin-18 gene polymorphism and risk of CVD in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

ObjectiveInterleukin-18 (IL-18), a proinflammatory cytokine, plays a key role in the acute and chronic inflammatory processes. It is associated with risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study was to evaluate association between G(-137)C polymorphism (rs187238) in the IL-18 gene and risk of diabetes and CVD in type 2 diabetes patients. MethodsWe examined 1548 T2DM patients and 590 controls. All subjects were genotyped for the G(-137)C promoter region polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction (PCR-SSP). ResultsGenotype distribution of the G(-137)C polymorphism showed no significant difference between T2DM patients and controls (p=0.115). An association with CVD was analyzed in two age groups: ⩾65 and <65years. In patients younger than 65years there was a tendency to association of CC genotype with CAD (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.0–3, p=0.051). In contrast, in subjects aged 65 or older, the C allele and CC genotype showed the significant association with the presence of CVD, with the OR 1.99, p=0.001 and OR 5.31, p=0.006, respectively. The C allele carriers showed the higher prevalence of CVD compared to non-carriers (61% vs. 39%, p<0.0001). ConclusionOlder T2DM patients carrying the C allele of IL-18 G(-137)C polymorphism have a significantly increased risk of CVD.