Conclusion
These findings suggest that an increase in IL-6 gene expression and its DNA hypomethylation promoter are associated with atherosclerosis patient's candidate for CABG surgery.
Methods
In this assay, a total of 35 cases with atherosclerosis and 30 controls were enrolled. RNA and DNA were isolated from the peripheral blood of all samples. Mean IL6 gene expression was determined by RT-PCR and methylation status at six CpG motifs in IL6 promoter was determined using bisulfite genomic sequencing.
Results
Real Time-PCR analysis results showed the mean IL6 RNA level in atherosclerosis patients candidate for CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting) was significantly higher than controls (P value = 0.01). Also, the upstream CpG motifs (-1038 to -952) in IL6 promoter were predominantly unmethylated in patients than in the controls (P value = 0.01).