Relationship between XspI Site Polymorphisms of LDL-R Gene and Serum IL-2 and IL-10 in Patients with Hypercholesterolemia

Relationship has been identified in sporadic reports between polymorphisms and hypercholesterolemia. However, the relationship between inflammatory cytokines and polymorphism of low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) gene in hypercholesterolemia is unclear. This study aimed to explore the relationship and significance between polymorphisms of LDL-R gene and serum Interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-10 in patients with hypercholesterolemia.

PCR-RFLP and direct DNA sequencing assay were employed to determine polymorphism of LDL-R gene in 900 patients with hypercholesterolemia and 400 healthy cases. ELISA was applied to assay serum concentration of IL-2 and IL-10. Blood lipid indexes were tested in all cases.

Compared with the healthy controls, level of IL-2 increased significantly, while IL-10 decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that IL-2 was positively correlated with total cholesterol (TC), LDL-c, and genotype (r = 0.542, 0.410, 0.598, P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with HDL-c (r = -0.352, P < 0.05). Negative relationship also was found between TC, LDL-c, genotype, and IL-10 (r = -0.452, -0.390, -0.613, P < 0.05), and positive correlation between HDL-c and IL-10 (r = 0.398, P < 0.05). Multiple linear regression showed that genotypes and TC were independent factors affecting the levels of IL-2 and IL-10 (P < 0.05).

IL-2 and IL-10 were related to gene polymorphisms of LDL-R, which might be involved in the development and progress of hypercholesterolemia.