{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "283e9945aa8544cd92a3f081d62e1f10", "timestamp": "2026-09-26T23:33:02.898Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/283e9945aa8544cd92a3f081d62e1f10.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/283e9945aa8544cd92a3f081d62e1f10"}}, "title": "Circulating interleukins in relation to coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation and ischemic stroke and its subtypes: A two-sample Mendelian randomization study.", "authors": [{"family": "Yuan", "given": "Shuai", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Lin", "given": "Ang", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "He", "given": "Qi-Qiang", "initials": "QQ"}, {"family": "Burgess", "given": "Stephen", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Larsson", "given": "Susanna C", "initials": "SC"}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2020-08-15", "journal": {"title": "Int. J. Cardiol.", "issn": "1874-1754", "volume": "313", "pages": "99-104", "issn-l": "0167-5273"}, "abstract": "The causal role of interleukins (ILs) for cardiovascular disease has not been fully elucidated. We conducted a Mendelian randomization study to investigate the associations of circulating ILs with coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation (AF), and ischemic stroke.\n\nSingle-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with IL-1\u03b2, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-2 receptor subunit alpha, IL-6, IL-16, IL-17 and IL-18 were identified from genome-wide association studies. Summary-level data of the outcomes were obtained from three large consortia. Genetic predisposition to higher IL-1ra levels were significantly associated with CAD. The odds ratio was 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14-1.63; P = 5.37 \u00d7 10-4) per one standard deviation increase in IL-1ra levels. Genetically higher IL-6 levels, predicted by a variant in the IL6R gene and corresponding to reduced IL-6 bio-function, were significantly inversely associated with CAD and AF. The odds ratios per one standard deviation increase in IL-6 levels were 0.64 (95%CI, 0.54-0.76; P = 2.22 \u00d7 10-7) for CAD and 0.70 (95%CI, 0.62-0.80; P = 1.34 \u00d7 10-7) for AF. There was a suggestive positive association of IL-1ra with cardioembolic stroke and suggestive inverse associations of IL-6 with any ischemic stroke, cardioembolic stroke, and small vessel stroke, and of IL-16 with CAD. The other ILs were not associated with any outcome.\n\nThese results strengthen the evidence that IL-6 inhibition may offer a therapeutic approach for prevention of CAD, AF, and ischemic stroke. In contrast, IL-1 inhibition through raised IL-1ra levels may confer increased risk of CAD and cardioembolic stroke. The role of IL-16 for CAD warrants further investigation.", "doi": "10.1016/j.ijcard.2020.03.053", "pmid": "32223966", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "mid", "key": "EMS133104"}, {"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC7611848"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "S0167-5273(20)30701-4"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-09-23T09:20:03.446Z", "modified": "2026-09-23T09:20:03.485Z"}