IL-6, TNF-α and atherosclerosis risk indicators in a healthy family population:: the STANISLAS cohort

There are no satisfactory data on circulating concentrations of inflammatory cytokines and their potential relationship with traditional and nontraditional atherosclerosis risk factors in a large healthy young Population. The present Study was conducted to examine, in 179 healthy families selected from the STANISLAS cohort, the association between interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), orosomucoid, haptoglobin, cell-adhesion molecules (ICAM- 1, E-, L- and P-selectin) and lipid parameter concentrations. Age, BMI, white blood cells and tobacco consumption contributed to the variation of IL-6 concentrations. Age and tobacco contributed also to TNF-alpha variation. Taking into account potential covariates, we showed strong positive correlation between IL-6 and both inflammatory markers TNF-alpha and CRP in parents and in offspring (P < 0.00 1). In parents, IL-6 was associated with ICAM- I and L-selectin (P < 0.0 1), while IL-6 and TNF-alpha predicted E-selectin in offspring only (0.00 1 < P < 0.0 1). Furthermore, IL-6 showed a strong negative relationship with apo A- I and HDL-cholesterol in females only (P < 0.00 1). This study demonstrated that in a large healthy family population, children included, levels of IL-6 are closely associated with traditional and non-traditional atherosclerosis risk factors. All these data are useful for defining the precise role of cytokines in atherosclerosis mechanisms in physiological conditions. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.