Association of polymorphism in glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit gene with coronary vasomotor dysfunction and myocardial infarction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the promoter region of the glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC) gene may be associated with coronary endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and myocardial infarction (MI).


BACKGROUND
Glutamate-cysteine ligase is a rate-limiting enzyme for synthesis of glutathione (GSH) that plays a crucial role in the intracellular antioxidant defense systems. Oxidants transcriptionally upregulate the GCLC gene for GSH synthesis, providing a protective mechanism against oxidant-induced endothelial dysfunction or activation, which plays a pathogenetic role in cardiovascular diseases.


METHODS
The association of the possible polymorphisms with coronary arterial diameter responses to acetylcholine was determined in 62 male subjects. The frequency of polymorphisms was compared between 255 male patients with MI and 179 male control subjects.


RESULTS
We found a polymorphism (-129C/T) in which the T allele showed lower promoter activity (50% to 60% of the activity of the C allele) in response to H(2)O(2) in human endothelial cells. Endothelium-dependent dilation of coronary arteries was impaired in subjects with the -129T allele (n = 31), as compared with the age-matched subjects without the -129T allele (n = 31). The T allele was highly frequent in patients with MI as compared with control subjects, and it was a significant risk factor for MI, independent of traditional coronary risk factors (odds ratio [OR] 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08 to 3.03; p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
The -129T polymorphism of the GCLC gene may suppress the GCLC gene induction response to an oxidant, and it is implicated in coronary endothelial vasomotor dysfunction and MI.
Koide
Shun-ichi
S
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Kumamoto, Japan
Kugiyama
Kiyotaka
K
Sugiyama
Seigo
S
Nakamura
Shin-ichi
S
Fukushima
Hironobu
H
Honda
Osamu
O
Yoshimura
Michihiro
M
Ogawa
Hisao
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D020134:Catalytic Domain / Q000235:genetics*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000503:physiopathology*
D005721:Glutamate-Cysteine Ligase