RESUMO
IL-10 and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) are the important anti and pro-inflammatory cytokines, respectively, which may participate in the cardiovascular disease pathogenesis. Additionally, environmental factors, such as the X-ray, can modulate cytokine expression. Due to the fact that X-ray is used during angiography, hence, angiography may alter expression of the cytokines. OBJECTIVE: Accordingly, this project was aimed to assess IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels within cardiovascular patients (with and without vessel stenosis) versus healthy controls and also the effects of angiography on the serum levels of the cytokines. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was performed on the 80 participants, including twenty cases in each group (healthy controls and cardiovascular patients without vessel stenosis, stenosis of 1 vessel and stenosis of more than 1 vessel) to evaluate IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels using ELISA technique. The IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels also compared within group 2, 3 and 4 before and after angiography to explore the effects of the technique on the IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels. RESULTS: IL-10, but not IFN-γ, serum levels were higher in the healthy controls than all cardiovascular patients. IL-10 and IFN-γ serum levels were not altered after angiography and also were not differ in the smoker versus non- smoker and opium consuming versus non-opium consuming participants. CONCLUSION: Due to the results it may be concluded that IL-10 can be considered as a plausible inhibitor of cardio- vascular diseases independent of angiography duration and X-ray, however, IFN-γ has no effects in the Iranian patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases.