Transcriptional Activity of Genes Encoding Interferon γ (IFNγ) and its Receptor Assessed in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Patients with Cardiac Syndrome X

Background Cardiac syndrome X is typically characterized by effort induced anginal pain with ST segment depression suggestive of myocardial ischemia and normal coronary arteries at angiography. The possible mechanism that may participate in the pathology of CSX is a microvascular dysfunction related to inflammatory process affecting endothelium. Interferon γ (IFN-γ) is an important cytokine in inflammatory reaction. It acts through its specific receptor composed of 2 subunits IFN-γ R1 (ligand binding) and R2 (signal transduction). The expression and proportion of these subunits influences IFN-γ activity. The aim of the study was to assess the gene expression of IFN-γ and its receptors in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with syndrome X.