Gene Variations Linked to Heart Disease Marker

A study has found that common variations in the interleuken-1 (IL-1) gene are associated with increased blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The finding was reported in the May 17, 2002, issue of Cytokine.

IL-1 is a primary regulator of inflammation, wound healing, and bone and connective tissues responses following injury or the onset of disease. It begins the chain reaction of inflammatory proteins that results in the production of CRP. Researchers from the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN, USA) identified four common polymorphisms in IL-1 genes in 454 patients undergoing coronary angiography.

The researchers analyzed these variations to determine their influence on plasma CRP and fibrinogen levels. They found that CRP levels remained highly associated with Il-1 variations after adjustment for smoking, gender, and age. Levels of fibrinogen, another marker for coronary disease, showed similar links with the IL-1 genotypes.

"Factors that influence genetic predisposition to disease may enable doctors to identify patients who are most at risk at an earlier age,” said Peter Berger, M.D., Mayo Clinic cardiologist and the lead author of the study.




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