-174G>C interleukin-6 gene polymorphism in Tunisian patients with coronary artery disease.

Background And Objectives: A state of low-grade inflammation accompanies the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic events. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleotropic pro-inflammatory cytokine that modulates the development of acute coronary syndromes (ACSs), partly by destabilizing coronary atherosclerotic plaques. We have examined the contribution of the -174G>C IL-6 promoter variant on the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) among Tunisians.

-308G>A and -1031T>C tumor necrosis factor gene polymorphisms in Tunisian patients with coronary artery disease.

Background: Recent research has shown that inflammation plays a key role in coronary artery disease (CAD) and other manifestations of atherosclerosis. Several lines of evidence support a key role for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a potent immunomodulator and pro-inflammatory cytokine, in the development of atherosclerosis and in complications of CAD.

Methods: We investigated the possible association between CAD and the TNF gene promoter polymorphisms -308G>A and -1031T>C in a Tunisian population.