H I Yeh1, Y Chou, H F Liu, S C Chang, C H Tsai. 1. Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A recent study shows that a C1019T polymorphism of the gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin37 contributes to the genesis of atherosclerotic plaques in human carotid artery. However, whether such a polymorphism can be used as a prognostic marker in atherosclerotic disease of other arterial sites, such as coronary artery disease, is not known. METHODS: We analyzed the allelic status in 177 subjects with coronary artery disease (age, 61+/-11 years; male/female, 120/57) and 102 controls (60+/-11 years; male/female, 70/32). Both groups were matched, before genotype analysis, for a variety of other traditional risk factors, including body mass index, smoking status, levels of blood pressure, sugar, creatinine, and lipid profiles, in addition to age and sex. RESULTS: The T allele was less frequently seen in the control group, compared to the disease group (10.7 vs. 20.1%, TT+TC vs. CC, P<0.01). Subsequent analysis demonstrated that a significant difference existed in the male (9.2 vs. 22.8%, TT+TC vs. CC, P<0.005), but not in the female. Another finding was that the T allele frequency in all participants was less than 15%, markedly lower than that reported in non-Taiwanese. CONCLUSIONS: The observation indicates that the polymorphism in the connexin37 gene potentially plays a role in the manifestation of coronary atherosclerosis in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND: A recent study shows that a C1019T polymorphism of the gene encoding the gap junction protein connexin37 contributes to the genesis of atherosclerotic plaques in human carotid artery. However, whether such a polymorphism can be used as a prognostic marker in atherosclerotic disease of other arterial sites, such as coronary artery disease, is not known. METHODS: We analyzed the allelic status in 177 subjects with coronary artery disease (age, 61+/-11 years; male/female, 120/57) and 102 controls (60+/-11 years; male/female, 70/32). Both groups were matched, before genotype analysis, for a variety of other traditional risk factors, including body mass index, smoking status, levels of blood pressure, sugar, creatinine, and lipid profiles, in addition to age and sex. RESULTS: The T allele was less frequently seen in the control group, compared to the disease group (10.7 vs. 20.1%, TT+TC vs. CC, P<0.01). Subsequent analysis demonstrated that a significant difference existed in the male (9.2 vs. 22.8%, TT+TC vs. CC, P<0.005), but not in the female. Another finding was that the T allele frequency in all participants was less than 15%, markedly lower than that reported in non-Taiwanese. CONCLUSIONS: The observation indicates that the polymorphism in the connexin37 gene potentially plays a role in the manifestation of coronary atherosclerosis in Taiwan.
Authors: Qing Wang; Shaoqi Rao; Gong-Qing Shen; Lin Li; David J Moliterno; L Kristin Newby; William J Rogers; Ruth Cannata; Erich Zirzow; Robert C Elston; Eric J Topol Journal: Am J Hum Genet Date: 2004-01-19 Impact factor: 11.025