[Role of cytokines in acute coronary syndrome]

Cytokines modulate immunologic processes, inflammation, proliferative responses and apoptosis. Recent studies focused on the role of proinflammatory cytokines in cardiovascular diseases. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha play important roles in acute coronary syndrome by regulating inflammation, cellular adhesion and production of growth factors and various vasoactive substances. Reperfusion after myocardial infarction and transient myocardial ischemia are supposed to induce these proinflammatory cytokines. We reviewed the mechanisms and clinical significance of proinflammatory cytokine expression in acute coronary syndrome. In addition we recently found out that an interaction between monocytes and vascular endothelial cells induces matrix metallo-proteinase expression by these cytokine-mediated mechanisms.