Relationship of interleukin-6 with regional and global left-ventricular function in asymptomatic individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease: Insights from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Andrew T. Yan, Raymond T. Yan, Mary Cushman, Alban Redheuil, Russell P. Tracy, Donna K. Arnett, Boaz D. Rosen, Robyn L. McClelland, David A. Bluemke, Joao A.C. Lima

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

66 Scopus citations

Abstract

AimsWe sought to examine the relationship between circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) level and regional left-ventricular (LV) function among apparently healthy individuals free of cardiovascular disease.Methods and resultsUsing magnetic resonance myocardial tagging, we determined peak systolic circumferential strain (Ecc) as a measure of regional systolic function in 894 asymptomatic participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Ecc was analysed by harmonic phase imaging separately in the LV anterior wall, septum, lateral wall, and inferior wall. Global Ecc was calculated as the average of Ecc in all myocardial segments. We performed multivariable linear regression to evaluate the independent associations between log IL-6 and Ecc, after adjusting for demographic features, cardiovascular risk factors, and markers of subclinical atherosclerosis. The inverse relationships between IL-6 and absolute Ecc were similar in both genders. In multivariable analysis, higher IL-6 level was independently associated with reduced systolic function (less negative Ecc) in the septum [regression coefficient = 1.03 per unit higher log IL-6, 95 confidence interval (CI) 0.26-1.79, P = 0.008] and inferior wall (regression coefficient = 1.65, 95 CI 0.74-2.56, P < 0.001), but not in the anterior wall (P = 0.27) or lateral wall (P = 0.52). Overall, there was an independent inverse association between IL-6 and global Ecc (regression coefficient = 0.94, 95 CI 0.37-1.51, P = 0.001). Compared with C-reactive protein, higher IL-6 level demonstrates a stronger independent association with reduced regional systolic function.ConclusionIn asymptomatic men and women without documented cardiovascular disease, there is a strong, independent, inverse relationship between IL-6 and regional LV systolic function. These findings suggest that IL-6 may underlie the pathogenetic link between inflammation, LV dysfunction and incipient heart failure. The observed variable relationships between IL-6 and systolic function across different LV regions warrant further investigations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)875-882
Number of pages8
JournalEuropean Heart Journal
Volume31
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2010

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant (RO1-HL66075-01) and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis study contracts (NO1-HC-95162, NO1-HC-95168, and NO1-HC-95169). A.T.Y. is supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and a New Investigator Award from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

Keywords

  • Heart failure
  • Interleukin-6
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Myocardial contraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Relationship of interleukin-6 with regional and global left-ventricular function in asymptomatic individuals without clinical cardiovascular disease: Insights from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this