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<div><p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Several inflammatory mediators have been proposed to contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quantitative expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in un-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).</p> <p><strong>METHODS:</strong> Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1&beta;), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interferon-gamma <br /> (IFN-&gamma;) gene expression were evaluated in angiography confirmed patients with and without CAD in a case-control study using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.</p> <p><strong>RESULTS:</strong><strong> </strong>A significant increase (P = 0.030) in IL-1&beta; gene expression was found in patients with CAD [median interquartile range (IQR) = 4.890 (6.084)] compared to patients without CAD [median (IQR) = 1.792 (3.172)]. Despite the increase in IFN-&gamma; gene expression in patients with CAD [median (IQR) = 1.298 (3.896)] versus patients without CAD [median (IQR) = 0.841 (2.79)], there was not statistically significant difference (P = 0.990).</p></div> <strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Our results provide evidence for possible association between IL-1&beta; and development of atherosclerosis as a crucial cytokine that induce a network of signaling pathways. This finding if proved in future would suggest IL-1&beta; as a potent therapeutic target in CAD.<p>&nbsp;</p>