Association between polymorphisms in IL-16 genes and coronary heart disease risk

Objective: We aimed to investigate the role of polymorphisms in IL-16 genes on the susceptibility of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD).

Methods: A total of 260 CAD cases and 281 health controls were collected between January 2008 and November 2011. Genotyping of IL-16 rs8034928, rs3848180, rs1131445, rs4778889 and rs11556218 was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry technologies.

Results: The frequencies of rs8034928 C allele and rs3848180 G allele in the CAD cases in CAD group were significantly higher than in controls. Compared with rs8034928 T/T genotype, a significant higher risk of CAD was found in C/C genotype (OR=1.87, 95%CI=1.17-3.03), and variant of rs8034928 showed a significant increased risk of CAD in dominant (OR=1.48, 95%CI=1.04-2.10) and recessive model (OR=1.70, 95%CI=1.10-2.67). The rs3848180 G/G was found to be associated with risk of CAD(OR=1.79, 95%CI=1.16-2.75), and G allele carries had a significant risk of CAD (OR=1.47, 95%CI=1.02-2.13).

Conclusions: Our study indicated that rs8034928 and rs11556218 polymorphisms are associated with CAD risk in a Chinese population, and IL-16 gene polymorphisms may be used as a predictor to the susceptibility of CAD.