The effect of interleukin and matrix metalloproteinase on the vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and cerebral infarction

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship of IL ⁃ 17, IL ⁃ 10 and MMP ⁃ 12 with the vulnerability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque and cerebral infarction. Methods According to clinical stroke event 70 carotid atherosclersis patients were divided into asymptomatic carotid atherosclerosis (ACAS) group (n = 35) and acute atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (AACI) group (n = 35). The patients were also divided into vulnerable plague (VP) group (n = 38) and unvulnerable plague (UVP) group (n = 32) by color ultrasonic technique. Normal control group (n = 35) was established. The plasma levels of cytokines were tested by enzyme ⁃ linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Compared with the control group, the concentrations of IL ⁃ 17, IL ⁃ 10 and MMP ⁃ 12 in ACAS group and AACI group were significantly elevated (P = 0.000; P = 0.000), moreover, the concentrations of IL⁃17 and MMP⁃12 in AACI group were higher than those in ACAS group (P = 0.000; P = 0.002, respectively). In AACI group, the level of IL⁃10 was lower than the ACAS group and control group (P = 0.000, for all), whereas, no significant difference of IL⁃10 level was seen between ACAS group and control group (P = 0.275). In VP group, the concentrations of IL ⁃ 17 and MMP ⁃ 12 were higher than those in UVP group (P = 0.000 and 0.014, respectively). In VP group, the level of IL⁃10 was lower than that in UVP group and control group (P = 0.000, for all), but no significant difference of IL⁃10 level was seen between UVP group and control group (P = 0.742). Correlation analysis showed, the level of IL⁃17 was positively correlated with the level of MMP⁃12 (r = 0.640, P = 0.000), and was negatively correlated with the level of IL⁃10 (r = ⁃ 0.430, P = 0.000). The level of MMP ⁃ 12 was weakly negatively correlated with the level of IL ⁃ 10 (r = ⁃ 0.242, P = 0.013). Conclusion IL ⁃ 17, IL ⁃ 10 and MMP ⁃ 12 all participate the pathological process of atherosclerosis and cerebral infarction. The elevated IL⁃17 and MMP⁃12 levels and decreased IL⁃10 level may be closely correlated with the plague vulnerability. These results would be helpful to discover the vulnerability of plague in the early stage and to predict the incidence of acute ischemic stroke.

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1672⁃6731.2012.03.020