Association of the IL-37 Polymorphisms with Transaminases and Alkaline Phosphatase Levels in Premature Coronary Artery Disease Patients and Healthy Controls. Results of the Genetics of Atherosclerotic (GEA) Mexican Study

Interleukin 37 (IL-37) is an anti-inflammatory cytokine expressed in foam cells located in the atherosclerosis plaques. The present study aimed to evaluate the association of the IL-37 polymorphisms with premature coronary artery disease (pCAD), cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic parameters, and levels of liver enzymes. Three IL-37 polymorphisms (rs6717710, rs2708961, and rs2708947) were determined in 1161 patients with pCAD and 951 healthy controls. IL-37 polymorphisms were not associated with the presence of pCAD. The association of the polymorphisms with cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic parameters, and levels of liver enzymes was evaluated independently in pCAD and healthy controls. In pCAD patients, under different models, the rs6717710 was associated with low risk of having elevated alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p(additive) = 0.020; p(dominant) = 0.02; p(heterozygous) = 0.04; p(codominant1) = 0.040). On the other hand, in healthy controls, the rs6717710 was associated with low risk of having elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p(additive) = 0.04, p(recessive) = 0.01, p(codominant2) = 0.01) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p(additive) = 0.02, p(dominant) = 0.02). The IL-37 polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of pCAD. In pCAD patients, the rs6717710 was associated with low risk of having elevated ALP levels, whereas in controls was associated with low risk of having elevated ALT and AST levels.