The Interleukin-6-174 G/C Promoter Polymorphism And Arterial Stiffness; The Rotterdam Study

Arterial stiffness normally increases with age and has been established as a precursor of cardiovascular disease. Interleukin-6 is a pleiotropic infl ammatory cytokine with an important role in the infl ammatory cascade, such as up-regulation of C-reactive protein (CRP). The interleukin-6-174-G/C promoter polymorphism appears to infl uence levels of infl ammatory markers, which have been shown to be associated with arterial stiffness. We studied the association of this polymorphism with levels of interleukin-6 and CRP and with arterial stiffness. The study (n = 3849) was embedded in the Rotterdam Study, a prospective, population-based study. Analyses on the association between the-174-G/C polymorphism and pulse wave velocity, distensibility coeffi cient, and pulse pressure were performed using analyses of variance. Analyses on the levels of infl ammatory markers and arterial stiffness were performed using linear regression analyses. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, known cardiovascular risk factors, and atherosclerosis. We found pulse wave velocity to be 0.35 m/s higher for CC-homozygotes vs. wildtype GG-homozygotes (p = 0.018) with evidence for an allele-dose effect (p trend = 0.013), and a similar pattern for pulse pressure (p trend = 0.041). No apparent consistent association with the distensibility coeffi cient was found. CRP levels were associated with pulse wave velocity (p = 0.007). In conclusion, the interleukin-6-174 G/C polymorphism is associated with increased arterial stiffness and pulse pressure.