Cases had higher levels of IL-1Ra at all time-points leading up to first-time MI, and higher levels of IL-1Ra were associated with approximately 1.5-fold increased risk of MI, supporting the rationale to target IL-1 activation in order to reduce cardiovascular risk in PWH.
The downregulation of IP3 receptors by IL-1ra attenuates Ca<sup>2+</sup> overload and the systolic and diastolic dysfunctions of hypoxia/reoxygenation-injured cardiomyocytes, which contributes to inhibition of apoptosis in I/R-injured cardiomyocytes and reduction of myocardial infarct size in vivo.
Lack of association was observed between MI at younger age (MI<40) and either IL-1RN VNTR, IL-1β-511, +3953 (P: 0.878, 0.732, 0.978) or IL-6 -174, -572, -597 (P: 0.313, 0.654, 0.552) gene polymorphisms.
Fifteen haplotype-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-1α (IL1A), IL-1β (IL1B), and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RN) genes were determined in the Health 2000 survey (n = 6771) and European myocardial infarction (MI) survivors (n = 972).