title: Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase is not associated with carotid intima-media thickness in hypercholesterolemic Sicilian individuals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atherosclerosis is a complex, chronic disease that usually arises from the converging action of several pathogenic processes, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and the accumulation of oxidized LDL. Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is a LDL- and HDL-bound enzyme that hydrolyzes and inactivates PAF and prevents LDL-cholesterol oxidation, thus delaying the onset of atherosclerotic disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the relationship between variants of the PAF-AH gene polymorphisms Arg92His, Ile198Thr, and Ala379Val and the presence of carotid atherosclerosis in 190 hypercholesterolemic Sicilian individuals. Carotid artery intima-media wall thickness (IMT) was measured as an indicator of early atherosclerotic disease. The participants were classified according to having normal (< or =1 mm) or abnormal (> or =1 mm) IMT and were also investigated for physical characteristics and biochemical indices, including PAF-AH activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PAF-AH activity and LDL concentrations were significantly correlated in hypercholesterolemic patients, but plasma PAF-AH activity and HDL were not significantly correlated in either IMT group. No significant differences were detected among the PAF-AH gene polymorphisms in both groups after correction for age, sex, body mass index, plasma glucose and lipid concentrations, PAF-AH activity, blood pressure, and smoking habits. The analysis of PAF-AH genotype distribution showed no significant differences in percentage of 92, 198, and 379 genotypes in both IMT groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provided no evidence that PAF-AH polymorphisms influence PAF-AH activity and atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic Sicilian patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Statistical Science, School of Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sardo
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bitto
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonaiuto
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trimarchi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonaiuto
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castaldo
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Saitta
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cristadoro
authors.forename: Antonino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saitta
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012802:Sicily; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase