Interleukin-4 C-590T polymorphism has no role in coronary artery bypass surgery

Interleukin-4 exerts anti-inflammatory effects through decreased macrophage production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. We investigated genetic predisposition in the interleukin-4 response to coronary revascularization and studied the association between C-590T polymorphism, interleukin-4 levels, and outcome of surgery. DNA was obtained from 96 consecutive patients undergoing elective coronary revascularization. Patients were genotyped for interleukin-4 C-590T polymorphism using a sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction. Interleukin-4 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples taken 3 hr postoperatively. The frequency of interleukin-4 C-590T genotypes CC, CT, and TT was 33.3%, 27.1%, and 39.6%, respectively. Patients with the TT genotype had significantly higher circulating levels of interleukin-4 (3.4 ± 4.6 pg-mL-1) postoperatively compared to CC (2.5 ± 0.1 pg·mL-1) and CT (2.7 ± 0.5 pg·mL-1) genotypes. Interleukin-4 C-590T polymorphism is the main determinant of postoperative interleukin-4 levels. The TT genotype is the highest producer of interleukin-4. Neither the genotype nor the serum levels seem to play any role in recovery from coronary artery bypass surgery.