Interleukin 17 and pre-clinical vascular damage in metabolic syndrome

Aim: Clinical complications of atherosclerotic pathology represent the primary cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide[1]. Along with traditional modifiable risk factors, increasing interest has recently been placed on so-called 'emerging risk factors'. Interleukin-17(IL-17), characteristic cytokine of the subset of T-helper17cells[3], plays a pivotal role in protecting the host against extracellular pathogens, but acts at the same time promoting inflammation in autoimmune diseases[4]; its role in atherosclerosis remains controversial[5-7]. Goal of the study was to identify the role of IL-17 in preclinical vascular damage in Metabolic Syndrome(MS).