Connexin37 gene polymorphism and coronary artery disease 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.
Yeh
H I
HI
Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Chou
Y
Y
Liu
H F
HF
Chang
S C
SC
Tsai
C H
CH
D000368:Aged; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
D017630:Connexins; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein