Research Article

Statistical analysis of the relationship between IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms and the development of coronary artery disease

Published: October 17, 2016
Genet. Mol. Res. 15(4): gmr15047823 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr15047823
Cite this Article:
L. Wu, M.H. Zhao, G.Y. Geng, L. Mao, H.J. Liu (2016). Statistical analysis of the relationship between IL-10 gene promoter polymorphisms and the development of coronary artery disease. Genet. Mol. Res. 15(4): gmr15047823. https://doi.org/10.4238/gmr15047823
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Abstract

Here, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the association between IL-10 gene polymorphisms and development of CAD in a Chinese population. A total of 220 patients with CAD and 236 control subjects who visited the Zhengzhou People’s Hospital between May 2012 and June 2014 were selected for this study. The IL-10-1082A/G and -592A/C polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction coupled with restriction fragment length polymorphism. The chi-squared test revealed a significant difference in the distributions of the IL-10-1082A/G genotypes (χ2 = 6.32, P = 0.04). This data was then statistically analyzed by logistic regression analysis; we observed revealed that the CC genotype of IL-10-1082A/G had a higher risk of CAD in comparison to the AA genotype (OR = 2.09, 95%CI = 1.11-3.97). Moreover, the C allele of IL-10-1082A/G had a 1.39 fold risk of CAD when compared with (OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.06-1.82). We did not observe any significant correlations between the IL-10-592A/C genetic variation and susceptibility to CAD. In conclusion, our study suggests that the IL-10-1082A/G genetic variation could influence the development of CAD in a Chinese population.

INTRODUCTION

Coronary artery disease is a serious disease with a high morbidity and mortality rate worldwide, as well as in China (He et al., 2005; Go et al., 2014). It is estimated that the mortality of CAD was 86.34 per 105 in urban area and 69.24 per 105 in rural area in 2010, and the mortality was higher in males than that in females (Wang et al., 2014). In recent decades, morbidity and mortality related to this disease have greatly increased (Wang et al., 2014). The development of CAD is involved in multiple lifestyle and environment-related factors and their interactions, such as high age, males, high dietary sugar, alcohol use, tobacco smoking, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, low high-density lipoprotein, as well as family history of CAD (Go et al., 2013). Additionally, genetic factors play an important role in increased risk of CAD development, and previous studies have indicated that many genes are correlated with this cancer, such as vitamin D receptor gene, interleukin-17 (IL-17), IL-6, apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and 7-Alpha cholesterol hydroxylase (CYP7A1) (Abu et al., 2015; Geng et al., 2015; Iwanicki et al., 2015; Li et al., 2015; Shi et al., 2015b; Xia et al., 2015; Zhang et al., 2015).

Inflammation plays an important role in CAD pathogenesis, such as IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL-17 genetic polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to CAD (Geng et al., 2015; Li et al., 2015; Yang et al., 2015). IL-10 is a member of the immunoregulatory cytokine family, and is located on chromosome 1q31-1q32. Many published studies have indicated that polymorphisms in the IL-10 gene are correlated with pathogenesis of CAD in different populations; however, the results remain conflicting (Blagodatskikh et al., 2010; Koch et al., 2001; Guo et al., 2012; Liu et al., 2013; Elsaid et al., 2014; Ren and She, 2015).Here, we carried out a study to assess the role of two common polymorphic sites in IL-10 gene (-1082A/G and -592A/C) in the CAD risk.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study subjects

The current study comprised of 246 patients diagnosed with CAD who visited the Zhengzhou People's Hospital between May 2012 and June 2014 were enrolled for this study. CAD was confirmed in all patients using coronary angiography examination. CAD was confirmed in those patients with > 70% coronary artery stenosis, and those exhibiting typical angina symptoms without any aortic valvular disease and with a history of previous or acute myocardial infarction. Patients who had a history of malignant tumors, serious liver and kidney diseases or acute or chronic diseases were excluded from our study. The mean age of CAD patients was 61.43 ± 9.63 years, and there were 97 (39.43%) females and 149 (60.57%) males in CAD patients.

Two hundred and fifty-nine control subjects were randomly collected from among individuals who visited outpatient department at the Zhengzhou People's Hospital during the same time period. Control subjects who had a history of atherosclerotic lesions, CAD, malignant tumors, end-stage liver and kidney diseases or acute or chronic diseases were excluded from the control groups. The mean age of control subjects was 59.67 ± 8.41 years. This study comprised of 118 (45.56%) female and 141 (54.44%) male controls.

The demographic lifestyle characteristics of patients with CAD and control subjects, including mean age, gender, tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus, were collected from structured questionnaires investigated by face-to-face interviews. In addition, the clinical characteristics, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglyceride, were collected from medical records. The performance of our study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Zhengzhou People's Hospital. Written informed consent from all study subjects was obtained prior to enrollment.

Genetic analysis

Five mL peripheral blood was obtained from each study subject, and the blood samples were stored at -20°C in refrigerator until using. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood using the TIANamp Blood DNA Kit (Tiangen, Beijing, China). Genotyping of the IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The primers, restriction enzymes and digested fragments of IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C polymorphisms are summarized in Table 1. The PCR reaction cycles were set according to the following program: an initial denaturation at 95°C for 15 minutes, followed by 35 cycles of denaturation at 94°C for 30 seconds, annealing at 59°C for 45 seconds, 72°C for 60 seconds, and a finally extension at 72°C for 10 minutes. The amplification product was at the position of 412bp for IL-10 -1082A/G, and was at the position of 136bp for IL-10 -1082A/G.

Primers, restriction enzymes, and digested fragments of the PCR-RFLP ofIL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C polymorphisms.

Gene polymorphism Primers Restriction enzyme Digested fragment
-1082A/G 5'-CTCGCCGCAACCAACTGGC -3'5'-TCTTACCTATCCCTACTTCC -3' Mnll AA: 136 bp; AG: 136, 103 and 33bp; GG: 103 and 33bp
-592A/C 5'-GGTGAGCACTACCTGACTAGC-3'5'-CTGGCTGCAACCCAACTGGC-3' RsaI AA: 236 and 176bp; AC: 412, 236 and 176 bp; CC: 412 bp

Statistical analysis

The chi-square test was performed to assess any probable deviations of the IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C genotype distributions in the CAD patients and controls from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between the IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C gene polymorphisms and development of, as well as susceptibility to, CAD. Odds ratio (OR) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with adjustment for possible confounders were used to estimate the results. All analyses were carried out using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). P values < 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.

RESULTS

Compared with the control subjects, the chi-square test or t-test revealed that CAD patients were more likely to have higher age (χ2 = 2.19, P = 0.015), higher BMI (χ2 = 12.06, P < 0.001), higher TC level (t = 3.31, P = 0.001), higher TG level (t = 5.48, P < 0.001) and lower HDL-c level (t = 6.13, P < 0.001), have a habit of tobacco smoking (χ2 = 8.04, P = 0.01), and suffer from hypertension (χ2 = 24.16, P < 0.001) and type 2 diabetes (χ2 = 9.50, P < 0.001) (Table 2). Moreover, there were no significant differences between CAD patients and control subjects in terms of gender (t = 2.19, P = 0.015), alcohol consumption (χ2 = 1.61, P = 0.21) and LDL-c level (t = 0.27, P = 0.39).

Characteristics of coronary artery disease (CAD) patients and control subjects.

Characteristics CAD patients (N = 246) % Controls (N = 259) % χ2-test or t test P value
Mean age, years 61.43 ± 9.63 59.67 ± 8.41 2.19 0.015
Gender
Female 97 39.43 118 45.56
Male 149 60.57 141 54.44 1.94 0.16
Tobacco smoking
No 131 53.25 170 65.64
Yes 115 46.75 89 34.36 8.04 0.01
Alcohol consumption
No 151 61.38 173 66.80
Yes 95 38.62 86 33.20 1.61 0.21
BMI, kg/m2 26.65 ± 2.45 24.17 ± 2.17 12.06 <0.001
Hypertension
No 117 47.56 179 69.11
Yes 129 52.44 80 30.89 24.16 <0.001
Type 2 diabetes
No 190 77.24 227 87.64
Yes 56 22.76 32 12.36 9.50 0.002
Total cholesterol, mM 4.13 ± 1.03 3.82 ± 1.07 3.31 0.001
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, mM 2.49 ± 1.52 2.46 ± 0.92 0.27 0.39
High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, mM 1.12 ± 0.53 1.38 ± 0.42 6.13 <0.001
Triglyceride, mM 1.78 ± 0.87 1.36 ± 0.85 5.48 <0.001

Genotype distributions of IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C genetic variations are described in Table 3. The genotype distributions of IL-10 -1082A/G in the CAD patients, as well as the controls, were in agreement with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P values for HWE in patients and controls were 0.66 and 0.65, respectively), whereas the genotype distributions of IL-10 -592A/C were not (P values for HWE in patients and controls were both less than 0.05). The chi-squared test revealed a significant difference in the distributions of the IL-10 -1082A/G genotypes (χ2 = 6.32, P = 0.04), while the results did not show significant difference in genotype distributions of IL-10 -592A/C (χ2 = 3.27, P = 0.19).

Genotype distributions of IL-10-1082A/G and -592A/C gene polymorphisms between patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and control subjects.

IL-10 Patients (N = 246) % Controls (N = 259) % P for HWE χ2 test P value
Cases Controls
-1082A/G
AA 98 39.84 125 48.26
AC 112 45.53 112 43.24
CC 36 14.63 22 8.49 0.66 0.65 6.32 0.04
-592A/C
AA 117 47.56 111 42.86
AG 116 47.15 140 54.05
GG 13 5.28 8 3.09 0.02 <0.001 3.27 0.19

HWE: Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.

The relationship between IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C gene polymorphisms are summarized in Table 4. The results of unconditional multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the CC genotype of IL-10-1082A/G had a higher risk of CAD in comparison to the AA genotype (OR = 2.09, 95%CI = 1.11-3.97). Moreover, the C allele of IL-10 -1082A/G had a 1.39 fold risk of CAD when compared with (OR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.06-1.82). However, we did not observe any significant correlations between the IL-10 -592A/C genetic variation and susceptibility to CAD.

Relationship between IL-10-1082A/G and -592A/C gene polymorphisms and coronary artery disease.

IL-10 Patients (N = 246) % Controls (N = 259) % OR (95%CI)1 P value
-1082A/G
AA 98 39.84 125 48.26 1.0 (Reference) -
AC 112 45.53 112 43.24 1.64 (0.87-3.11) 0.10
CC 36 14.63 22 8.49 2.09 (1.11-3.97) 0.01
Allele
A 308 62.60 362 69.88 1.0 (Reference) -
C 184 37.40 156 30.12 1.39 (1.06-1.82) 0.01
-592A/C
AA 117 47.56 111 42.86 1.0 (Reference) -
AG 116 47.15 140 54.05 0.79 (0.54-1.14) 0.19
GG 13 5.28 8 3.09 1.54 (0.57-4.46) 0.35
Allele
A 350 71.14 362 69.88 1.0 (Reference) -
G 142 28.86 156 30.12 0.94 (0.71-1.25) 0.66

1Adjusted for gender, age, tobacco smoking, BMI, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride. OR = odds ratio; CI = confidence interval.

Moreover, interaction analysis was carried out to identify the relationship between IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C gene polymorphisms and demographic, lifestyle and clinical characteristics in the risk of CAD. However, no interaction was observed between them.

DISCUSSION

Here, we attempted to estimate the relationship between the IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C genetic polymorphisms and CAD risk; we discovered a correlation between the CC genotype and C allele of IL-10 -1082A/G and increased CAD risk in the Chinese population. Moreover, the IL-10 -592A/C polymorphism had no association with development of CAD.

IL-10 belongs to the family of chemokines, and it locates on chromosome 1q31-q32, and -1082A/G and -592A/C are located at the promoter regions. Polymorphisms in the IL-10 can alter the structure and quantity of this gene, and consequently influencing the expression and function of the product. Previous studies have demonstrated that IL-10 genetic polymorphisms could affect the risk of many autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Graves' disease and peptic ulcer (Sugimoto et al., 2007; Liu et al., 2011; da Silva et al., 2004; Lagha et al., 2015). Sugimoto et al. (2007) carried out a study in a Japanese population, and reported that IL-10 -1082/-819/-592 haplotypes were correlated with an elevated risk for gastric cancer. Liu et al. (2011) investigate the role of the IL-10 genotype polymorphism in susceptibility to Graves’ disease, and demonstrated that IL-10 -1082 genetic polymorphism was significantly correlated with Graves' disease susceptibility in the Chinese population. da Silva et al. (2014) carried out a study in a Brazilian population, and reported that the IL-10 -1082 genetic polymorphism may influence the systemic lupus erythematosus susceptibility. Lagha et al. (2015) conducted a study in a Tunisian population with 104 rheumatoid arthritis and 150 healthy controls, and reported that genetic variation in IL-10-1082 A/G was associated with rheumatoid arthritis risk.

In regards to the role of IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C polymorphisms in CAD risk, several previous studies have reported conflicting results (Koch et al., 2001; Blagodatskikh et al., 2010; Elsaid et al., 2014; Ren and She, 2015; Yang et al., 2015). Blagodatskikh et al. (2010) evaluated the association of the IL-10 -1082A/G genetic variation with the development of CAD in a Russian population, and discovered that IL-10 -1082A/G genetic polymorphism could influence the risk of CAD. Elsaid et al. (2014) discovered an association between the IL-10-1082A/G gene polymorphisms and an increased prevalence of CAD. Ren and She (2015) done a study in a Chinese population, and revealed that IL-10 -1082A/G is correlated with an increased risk of CAD. Yang et al. (2015) conducted a study in a Chinese population, and suggested that the IL-10 -1082A/G polymorphisms might be involved in the risk of developing CAD. However, some studies reported inconsistent results. Guo et al. (2012) observed that IL-10 -1082A/G was unlikely to be a significant biomarker to CAD susceptibility in the Han Chinese population. Koch et al. (2001) carried out a study in a German 998 patients with CAD and 340 control subjects, and did not reported an correlation of IL-10 -1082A/G and -592A/C polymorphisms with the risk of CAD. In our study, we observed an association between the IL-10 -1082A/G polymorphism and the pathogenesis of CAD. Further studies with larger scale samples are required to validate our findings.

Three limitations should be considered in the present study. First, the patients and control subjects were selected from only one hospital in China, which could not represent the general population in other places of China. Second, more gene polymorphisms may be involved in the development of CAD, but we only investigate the role of IL-10 polymorphisms in the risk of CAD. Third, the samples of this study is relatively small, which may reduce the statistical power to find difference between groups.

In conclusion, our study suggests that the IL-10 -1082A/G genetic variation could influence the development of CAD in a Chinese population, and IL-10 -1082A/G could be a predictive biomarkers for early detection of CAD.