Plasma IL-5 concentration and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis. 2014 Dec 23;239(1):125-130.

19 January Jan 2015 11 years ago
  • Silveira A, McLeod O, Strawbridge RJ, Gertow K, Sennblad B, Baldassarre D, Veglia F, Deleskog A, Persson J, Leander K, Gigante B, Kauhanen J, Rauramaa R, Smit AJ, Mannarino E, Giral P, Gustafsson S, Humphries SE, Tremoli E, de Faire U, Hamsten A
Genetic variants robustly associated with coronary artery disease were reported in the vicinity of the interleukin (IL)-5 locus, and animal studies suggested a protective role for IL-5 in atherosclerosis. A new study explores IL-5 as a plasma biomarker for early subclinical atherosclerosis, as determined by measures of baseline severity and change over time of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT).

The results suggest that IL-5 may be part of protective mechanisms operating in early atherosclerosis, at least in women. However, the relationships are weak and whereas IL-5 has been proposed as a potential molecular target to treat allergies, it is difficult to envisage such a scenario in coronary artery disease.

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