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Association of influenza virus infection and inflammatory cytokines with acute myocardial infarction

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Abstract

Objective

To explore the potential relationship between previous influenza virus (IV) infection and acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and the mechanism of atherosclerosis, we conducted a case–control study and examined inflammatory cytokines to assess the association of previous IV infection and AMI.

Methods

A questionnaire-based survey was conducted to collect information about demographic characteristics and heart disease risk factors. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibodies to influenza virus A (IV-A), influenza virus B (IV-B), cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus type-1 and type-2, adenovirus, rubella virus and Chlamydia pneumoniae, and to measure the level of certain biochemistry markers: interleukin-2, 6, 10 and 18 (IL-2, 6, 10 and 18), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), endothelin-1 (ET-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1).

Results

Compared with the controls, the cases were more likely to have positive IgG antibodies to IV-A and IV-B [IV-A: odds ratio (OR): 3.1, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5–6.4; IV-B: OR: 10.2, 95% CI: 5.7–20.0]. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, the risk of AMI was still associated with the presence of IgG antibodies to IV-A (adjusted OR: 5.5, 95% CI: 1.3–23.0) and IV-B (adjusted OR: 20.3, 95% CI: 5.6–40.8). The levels of IL-2, 6, 10 and18, TNF-α, IFN-γ, ET-1, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in patients with AMI were significantly higher than those of the controls (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our study supports the hypothesis that previous IV infection is associated with AMI. Inflammatory cytokines may take part in the development of atherosclerosis and trigger the occurrence of AMI.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks are extended to the staff of the Medical Examination Center and the Cardiac Care Unit of the First Hospital of Harbin Medical University for their assistance. We acknowledge Dr. Wei-Min Li for his clinical advice to this study. Acknowledgement was extended to Li-Xin Jiang, Chun-Yan Lin, Lian-Ming Wang, Zhao-Zhen Xu and Li-Yan Wang for their laboratory tests and survey. This study was supported by the Natural Science Foundation (grant D200968) of Heilongjiang Province in China.

Conflict of interest

No author has any conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China

    Xiuru Guan, Wei Yang & Xijuan Sun

  2. Cardiovascular Department, First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

    Lanfeng Wang

  3. Department of Physician Assistant Studies, University of South Alabama, Montgomery, USA

    Benjiang Ma

  4. Epidemiology Department, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China

    Hongyuan Li

  5. Hematology Department, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China

    Jin Zhou

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  1. Xiuru Guan
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  2. Wei Yang
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  3. Xijuan Sun
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  4. Lanfeng Wang
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  7. Jin Zhou
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Correspondence to Jin Zhou.

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Responsible editor: Makoto Katori.

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Guan, X., Yang, W., Sun, X. et al. Association of influenza virus infection and inflammatory cytokines with acute myocardial infarction. Inflamm. Res. 61, 591–598 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-012-0449-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-012-0449-3

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