title: CD14 gene -260 C/T polymorphism is associated with chronic heart failure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) show inflammatory changes and elevated plasma levels of TNFalpha and endotoxins. However, the role of the CD14 C(-260)T polymorphism in patients with CHF is unclear. Therefore, we sought to determine whether the C=>T promoter polymorphism (position -260) of the CD 14 gene is associated with a higher risk for the development of CHF.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 100 patients with CHF (mean age 62+/-3 years, LVEF 28+/-8%) and 100 healthy controls (59+/-10 years, p=NS; LVEF 60+/-4%, p<0.05). CD14 genotyping was performed using a PCR-RFLP technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among CHF patients, the frequency of the T allele was lower (38% vs. 48%, p<0.05) and the frequency of the C allele higher (62 % vs. 52 %, p<0.05) than among controls. The distribution of CD14 genotypes in healthy controls was as follows: CC 32%, CT 40%, and TT 28%. Among CHF patients, the TT genotype was significantly underrepresented compared to controls: CC 38%, CT 48%, and TT 14% (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The C -260T polymorphism of CD14 seems to influence the susceptibility for the development of CHF. The T allele is less frequent among CHF patients than among controls. The TT genotype could be a new genetic protective factor against the development of CHF.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik I, Universitätsklinikum, Rheinisch Westfälische Technische Hochschule, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. skrueger@lukasneuss.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Marc W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Merx
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stickel
authors.forename: Karl Christian
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Koch
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Janssens
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hanrath
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kunz