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Published on: October 22, 2014
Interleukin-10 serum levels and systemic endothelial vasoreactivity in patients with coronary artery disease
Stephan Fichtlscherer1, Susanne Breuer, Christopher Heeschen
1Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Cardiology, Johann W. Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany. fichtlscherer@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Insights
Elevated interleukin-10 (IL-10) serum levels correlate with improved endothelial vasoreactivity in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients, especially those with high C-reactive protein (CRP). This highlights the role of inflammatory balance in endothelial function.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Chronic inflammation drives atherosclerosis progression.
- Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine with protective effects in experimental atherosclerosis.
- The endothelium is a primary target for inflammatory cytokines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between elevated serum IL-10 levels and improved endothelial vasoreactivity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Main Methods:
- Forearm blood flow (FBF) responses were measured in 65 male CAD patients.
- Endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine) and endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside) vasoreactivity were assessed using venous occlusion plethysmography.
Main Results:
- Serum IL-10 levels positively correlated with acetylcholine-induced FBF responses (r = 0.31, p < 0.02).
- No significant correlation was found with sodium nitroprusside responses.
- Elevated IL-10 levels were associated with preserved acetylcholine-stimulated FBF in patients with high C-reactive protein (CRP).
- IL-10 and CRP serum levels were independent predictors of acetylcholine-induced FBF responses on multivariate analysis.
Conclusions:
- Increased serum IL-10 levels are linked to enhanced systemic endothelial vasoreactivity in CAD patients, particularly those with elevated CRP.
- The balance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators significantly influences endothelial function in CAD.
Objectives:
Because the endothelium is a major target for inflammatory cytokines, we investigated whether elevated interleukin (IL)-10 serum levels are associated with improved endothelial vasoreactivity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Background:
Chronic inflammation plays a pivotal role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Interleukin-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that exerts important protective effects on atherosclerotic lesion development in experimental animals.
Methods:
Vasoreactivity was assessed in 65 male patients with documented CAD by measuring endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine [ACh] 10 to 50 microg/min) and endothelium-independent (sodium nitroprusside [SNP] 2 to 8 microg/min) forearm blood flow (FBF) responses using venous occlusion plethysmography.
Results:
Serum levels of IL-10 were significantly correlated with ACh-induced FBF responses (r = 0.31, p < 0.02), but not with SNP responses. Importantly, if IL-10 serum levels were increased in patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, no impairment of ACh-stimulated FBF response was observed. On multivariate analysis, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, clinical status of the patients, and statin and/or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor treatment, only IL-10 (p < 0.02) and CRP serum levels (p < 0.02) were significant independent predictors of ACh-induced FBF responses.
Conclusions:
Thus, increased IL-10 serum levels are associated with improved systemic endothelial vasoreactivity in patients with elevated CRP serum levels, demonstrating that the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators is a major determinant of endothelial function in patients with CAD.
