The association of L-selectin polymorphisms with L-selectin serum levels and risk of ischemic stroke.

L-selectin is a member of the selectin family of cell adhesion molecules which are important in the transient attachment of leukocytes to endothelial cells, which plays a role in inflammation processes and is one of the earliest events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. No studies have examined the association of this polymorphism with ischemic stroke. Therefore, we investigated that L-selectin gene polymorphism and its soluble level are associated with ischemic stroke in Chinese population. We analyzed single nucleotide polymorphisms of L-selectin gene Pro213Ser (P213S) in 265 patients with ischemic stroke and 280 age and sex matched controls, using PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing method, while soluble L-selectin levels were measured by ELISA. There were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of L-selectin gene P213S polymorphism between the group of patients with ischemic stroke and the control group (P < 0.05). Soluble L-selectin levels were increased in patients with ischemic stroke compared with controls (P < 0.01). Moreover, The P213S polymorphism of L-selectin was significantly associated with sL-selectin levels, the serum levels of L-selectin PP genotype carriers was significantly higher than no carriers in patients with ischemic stroke (P < 0.05). The P213S polymorphism of L-selectin and its sL-selectin levels are associated with ischemic stroke in Chinese population. Our data suggests that L-selectin gene may play a role in the development of ischemic stroke.