RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: The levels of plasma IL-18 and IFN-gamma in 45 patients with CHD and 30 normal volunteers were determined by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between the levels of these two cytokines and the relationship between their levels and the state of CHD were analyzed. RESULTS: The plasma levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in patients with CHD were increased significantly when compared to those in normal controls [IL-18: (373.6+/-176.7) ng/L vs. (226.3+/-88.9) ng/L, P<0.01; IFN-gamma: (1.769+/-0.087) ng/L vs. (0.087+/-0.038) ng/L, P<0.01]. The two cytokines were positively correlated significantly (r=0.788, P<0.01)]. The plasma levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma were significantly different in different states of CHD, and they increased with the aggravation of CHD respectively (all P<0.01). Moreover, the plasma levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in patients complicated with heart failure (HF) were higher than those not complicated with HF, respectively (all P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that IL-18 and IFN-gamma may participate in the pathogenesis and progression of CHD. The plasma levels of two cytokines may be used as parameters of estimation the morbid state of CHD.
