title: Evidence for association of a common variant of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (Glu298-->Asp polymorphism) to the presence, extent, and severity of coronary artery disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Genetic variants of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) could influence individual susceptibility to coronary artery disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether Glu298-->Asp polymorphism of the eNOS gene is associated with the occurrence and severity of angiographically defined coronary artery disease in the Italian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was done to detect the Glu298-->Asp variant of the eNOS gene in 201 patients with coronary artery disease and 114 controls. The severity of coronary artery disease was expressed by the number of affected vessels and by the Duke scoring system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of the eNOS Glu/Glu, Glu/Asp, and Asp/Asp genotypes in the coronary artery disease group were significantly different from those of controls (45.3%, 38.8%, and 15.9% v 42.1%, 51.8%, and 6.1%, respectively; chi2 = 8.589, p = 0.0136). In comparison with subjects who had a Glu298 allele in the eNOS gene, the risk of coronary artery disease was increased among Asp/Asp carriers (odds ratio 2.9, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 6.8, p = 0.01) and was independent of the other common risk factors (p = 0.04). There was a significant association between the eNOS Glu298-->Asp variant and both the number of stenosed vessels (mean (SEM), 2.3 (0.1) for Asp/Asp v 1.9 (0.1) and 1.8 (0.1) for Glu/Glu and Glu/Asp, respectively; p = 0.01) and the Duke score (56.1 (3.1) for Asp/Asp v 46.7 (2.0) and 46.1 (1.9) for Glu/Glu and Glu/Asp, respectively; p = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glu298-->Asp polymorphism of the eNOS gene appears to be associated with the presence, extent, and severity of angiographically assessed coronary artery disease.
authors: CNR Institute of Clinical Physiology, G Pasquinucci Hospital, Massa, Italy. colombo@ifc.pi.cnr.it
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Colombo
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Andreassi
authors: U
authors: U
authors: Paradossi
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Botto
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Manfredi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Masetti
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Rossi
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Clerico
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Biagini
mesh_terms: D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010375:Pedigree; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III