Circulating interleukin-18: Association with IL-8, IL-10 and VEGF serum levels in patients with and without heart rhythm disorders.

Abstract Background An altered IL-18 pathway in patients with coronary artery disease has recently been described and this cytokine was shown to be of clinical and prognostic utility. Cardiomyocytes are a target of this cytokine which exerts inflammatory, hypertrophic and profibrotic activities. Objectives The aim of the study was to verify the ability of IL-18 to induce expression of other pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines and to analyse the relationship between these molecules in serum from patients with heart rhythm disorders and coronary artery disease. Methods All patients in the study were divided into two groups: with heart rhythm disorders and without but with diagnosed coronary artery disease. Heart rhythm disorders included sinus node dysfunction, bradycardia and tachycardia. Results The interrelationships among all tested clinical, biochemical and inflammatory parameters with a dependence on median IL-18 values were checked. From all tested parameters only cytokines IL-8, IL-10 and VEGF, were associated with the serum IL-18 levels. Conclusion IL-18, IL-8 and VEGF were identified as a factors involved in heart rhythm disorders and coronary artery disease patho-physiology and regarded as markers of prognostic significance and potential therapeutic targets. The demonstration of their in vivo relationship added new insights into the understanding of the interdependence of inflammatory pathways in patients with heart rhythm disorders or coronary artery disease.