Circulating interleukin-17A in patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes

Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is produced by Th17 and other cells. It is debatable whether IL-17 is atherogenic or atheroprotective. The role of this interleukin in the development and progression of coronary artery disease is unknown. Our aim was to evaluate if there were differences in serum IL-17A levels according to to clinical presentation of coronary artery disease.

This cross-sectional study enrolled 101 patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), 100 patients with chronic coronary syndrome (CCS), and 70 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were collected from patients and controls (within 48 h) to analyze IL-17A levels. Clinical characteristics were recorded using questionnaires. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee.

Comparisons of the clinical characteristics between patients with ACS and CCS revealed the following: mean age (62 ± 12.4 years vs. 63.3 ± 9.8 years, P = 0.4), male (63.4% vs. 58%, P = 0.4), hypertension (85.1% vs. 79%, P = 0.1), dyslipidemia (48% vs. 31%, P = 0.01), diabetes mellitus (47.5% vs. 41%, P = 0.3), previous myocardial infarction (57.4% vs. 40%, P = 0.01), and smoking (29.7% vs. 38%, P = 1). The peripheral concentrations of IL-17A in ACS, CCS and controls were 5.36 ± 8.83, 6.69 ± 17.92, and 6.26 ± 11.13, respectively, with P = 0.6. In addition, the comparison between ACS and CCS showed: 5.36 ± 8.83 vs. 6.69 ± 17.92%, P = 0.3.

The main finding of this study was that circulating IL-17 levels were similar in patients with ACS, CCS, and healthy volunteers. In addition, there was no difference between patients with ACS and those with CCS. Therefore, in patients with ACS and CCS, circulating IL-17A concentrations are low and there were no differences between patients with coronary artery disease and healthy individuals.