Genetic and environmental influences on the prospective correlation between systemic inflammation and coronary heart disease death in male twins.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Because of lack of evidence, we aimed to examine to what degree low-grade systemic inflammation and coronary heart disease (CHD) death shared common genetic and environmental substrates.

Approach and results

From the 41-year prospective National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Twin Study, we included 950 middle-aged male twins at baseline (1969-1973). Low-grade systemic inflammation was measured with plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein. Univariate and bivariate structural equation models were used, adjusted for a risk score for CHD death. The score-adjusted heritability was 19% for IL-6, 27% for C-reactive protein, and 22% for CHD death. The positive phenotypic correlation of IL-6 with CHD death (radjusted=0.27; 95% confidence interval [CI

SUBMITTER: Wu SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4163972 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature