Background: CD14 pathway is at the crossroads between infection and inflammation. In human pathology, divergent results have been reported on the relationship between a polymorphism in the promoter of receptor CD14 (C260T), expression of soluble CD14 (sCD14) receptor and atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate in a cross-sectional population-based sample the relationships between C260T polymorphism in CD14 gene, sCD14 blood levels and arterial wall.
Methods: Among 1015 subjects, randomly recruited by the Toulouse MONICA center between 1995 and 1997, 899 subjects with complete data for all the measurements, were analyzed. sCD14 was measured using an immuno-enzymatic method. Common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the presence of plaques in the carotid and femoral arteries were assessed by ultrasonography. A genotypic examination for the CD14 C260T polymorphism was performed.
Results: An increase in sCD14 expression was observed in subjects carrying t allele (P < 0.01). No significant difference in intima-media thickness, number of plaques and pulse wave velocity was noticed according to C260T polymorphism. An interaction (P < 0.05) was observed between C260T polymorphism and current smoking in sCD14 expression: among smokers, no significant change in sCD14 was observed in individuals carrying t allele.
Conclusion: Although (C260T) polymorphism in CD14 gene in this study is associated with expression of sCD14, no significant association was found between this polymorphism and early markers of atherosclerosis. This polymorphism affects plasma levels of sCD14 in relation to current smoking status. Further studies are needed to determine whether this interaction influences the deleterious effect of smoking on vascular events.