A functional polymorphism in the lymphotoxin-alpha gene is associated with carotid artery wall thickness: the Diabetes Heart Study.
BACKGROUND
The lymphotoxin-alpha (LTA) gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We tested for an association between a functional polymorphism, LTA 252A/G, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness in 1088 siblings from 435 Diabetes Heart Study families.


METHODS
Intima-media thickness was measured by high-resolution B-mode carotid ultrasonography. A MassARRAY system (Sequenom Inc., San Diego, California, USA) was used for genotyping.


RESULTS
The LTA 252G allele was positively associated with increased intima-media thickness (the odds ratio for the G allele carriers being in the top tertile of the intima-media thickness distribution was 1.41, P=0.04).


CONCLUSIONS
The LTA 252A/G polymorphism is moderately associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis.
Liu
Yongmei
Y
Departments of Public Health Sciences bInternal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Herrington
David
D
Burdon
Kathryn P
KP
Langefeld
Carl D
CD
Rich
Stephen S
SS
Bowden
Donald W
DW
Freedman
Barry I
BI
Wagenknecht
Lynne E
LE
D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography
D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D004247:DNA