Increased Expression of Interleukin-18 mRNA is Associated with Carotid Artery Stenosis

Abstract

Background: Carotid artery stenosis is the atherosclerotic narrowingof the proximal internal carotid artery and one of the primary causesof stroke. Elevated expression of the pleiotropic proinflammatorycytokine interleukin-18 has been demonstrated in humanatherosclerotic plaques.Aims: To investigate whether the mRNA expression levels ofinterleukin-18 and interleukin-18-binding protein and interleukin-18−137 G/C (rs187238) variants are associated with carotid arterystenosis development.Study Design: Case-control study.Methods: The mRNA expression levels of interleukin-18 andinterleukin-18-binding protein and interleukin-18 rs187238 variantswere evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactionand real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively, in the peripheralblood mononuclear cells of 70 patients with carotid artery stenosis (36symptomatic, 34 asymptomatic) and 75 healthy controls.Results: Interleukin-18 mRNA expression was significantly increasedin carotid artery stenosis patients compared to that in healthy controls(p=0.01). However, no significant difference was observed betweeninterleukin-18-binding protein mRNA expression levels in patientswith carotid artery stenosis and those in controls (p=0.101). Internalcarotid artery stenosis severity was significantly higher in symptomaticpatients than that in asymptomatic patients (p