Elevated circulating interleukin-27 in patients with coronary artery disease is associated with dendritic cells, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and severity of coronary artery stenosis

Mediators Inflamm. 2012:2012:506283. doi: 10.1155/2012/506283. Epub 2012 Jul 13.

Abstract

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory disease mainly caused by atherosclerosis. The aims of this study were to investigate the role of interleukin-27 (IL-27) in patients with CAD and the severity of coronary artery lesions, which was evaluated by Gensini score and to investigate the biosynthesis of IL-27 and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) in vitro using monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). To this aim, plasma levels of IL-27, ox-LDL, and Gensini score were analyzed in patients with CAD (n = 136) and normal subjects (controls, n = 29). IL-27 concentration of the supernatant and the mRNA expression levels of p28 and ebi3, subunits of IL-27, from cultured immature DCs incubated with different concentrations of ox-LDL for 24 h were also analyzed. We found that circulating IL-27 levels were significantly elevated in patients with CAD than in controls (P < 0.01), and positively correlated to ox-LDL and Gensini score. ox-LDL dose-dependently upregulated expression of both IL-27 protein and IL-27 (p28 and EBI3) mRNA in vitro, indicating that ox-LDL can stimulate DCs to produce IL-27. These results demonstrate that IL-27 might regulate the network of immunity and inflammation in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood*
  • Coronary Stenosis / blood*
  • Coronary Stenosis / pathology*
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-17 / blood*
  • Lipoproteins, LDL / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Interleukin-17
  • Lipoproteins, LDL
  • oxidized low density lipoprotein