Effect of Interleukin-2 Level and Genetic Variants on Coronary Artery Disease

Inflammation plays important roles in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease (CAD). Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is a proinflammatory cytokine and induces proliferation of T cells. The aim of the study was to understand the effect of IL-2 on the development of CAD from genetic polymorphism perspective and serum level perspective. IL-2 -330T/G and +114T/G polymorphisms were tested in 692 CAD cases and 723 healthy controls. IL-2 expression of these two polymorphisms was compared. Serum level of IL-2 in CAD patients and controls was analyzed. Data showed that prevalence of IL-2 -330GG genotype was significantly increased in CAD than in controls (p = 5.1 x 10(-6)). Function analysis revealed that subjects carrying IL-2 -330GG genotype had higher serum level of IL-2 than those with TG or TT genotypes (p < 0.01). Serum level of IL-2 in the study subjects was further analyzed, and results showed that CAD patients had significantly increased IL-2 level than healthy controls (p < 0.01). Also, cases with three vessels affected were observed to have higher IL-2 level than cases with one vessel affected (p < 0.05). These data suggested IL-2 polymorphism could affect the susceptibility to CAD by elevating protein expression, and serum level of IL-2 may be closed correlated with the development and progression of this disease.