Heterozygotes of NOS3 polymorphisms contribute to reduced nitrogen oxides in high-altitude pulmonary edema.
OBJECTIVE
High-altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), which develops on exertion under hypoxic conditions, aggravates due to endothelial dysfunction. Repeat events of the disorder suggests of genetic susceptibility. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS3), a regulator of vasodilation, has emerged as a strong candidate marker. In the present study, we investigated G894T, 27-base-pair 4b/4a (variable number of tandem repeat), -922A/G, and -786T/C polymorphisms of NOS3, individually or in combination, for an association with HAPE.


METHODS
A cross-sectional case control study.


METHODS
Blood samples of HAPE-resistant lowlanders (HAPE-r) were obtained at sea level, and blood samples of patients with HAPE (HAPE-p) were obtained at Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital, Leh, at 3,500 m.


METHODS
The study groups consisted of 60 HAPE-r inducted two to three times to altitudes > 3,600 m; and 72 HAPE-p, who had HAPE on their first visit to high altitude.


RESULTS
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) at 77.9 +/- 28.6 micromol/L were significantly elevated in HAPE-r as compared to 42.39 +/- 12.93 micromol/L in HAPE-p (p < 0.0001). Genotype distribution of G894T and 4b/4a polymorphisms was significantly different in the two groups (p = 0.001 and 0.009, respectively). Haplotype analysis revealed -922A/G and -786T/C polymorphisms in complete linkage disequilibrium. The wild-type haplotypes G-b (G894T, 4b/4a), G-A (G894T, -922A/G), and G-b-A (G894T, 4b/4a, -922A/G) were significantly overrepresented in HAPE-r (p < 0.0001, p = 0.03, and p = 0.02, respectively). The heterozygote genotype combination GTba as compared to wild-type combination GGbb was significantly higher in HAPE-p (chi2 = 18.62, p = 0.00009; odds ratio, 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 2.82 to 18.38). The combination of four heterozygotes GTbaAGTC was overrepresented in HAPE-p (p = 0.04), whereas the wild-type genotype combination GGbbAATT was overrepresented in HAPE-r (p = 0.002). Furthermore, the GGbb combination correlated with significantly elevated NOx as compared to remaining combinations as a whole in both HAPE-r and HAPE-p (p = 0.01 and 0.004, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Reduced NOx and combination of heterozygotes associate with the susceptibility to HAPE. The study impels another step toward application of NOx as a diagnostic marker for HAPE. The NOS3 GTba and GTbaAGTC genotype combinations may find application as genetic markers for predicting the risk for HAPE.
Ahsan
Aarif
A
Functional Genomics Unit, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Mall Rd, Delhi-110 007, India.
Mohd
Ghulam
G
Norboo
Tsering
T
Baig
Masroor A
MA
Pasha
M A Qadar
MA
D000328:Adult; D000531:Altitude; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020080:Tandem Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics
D015415:Biomarkers; D009589:Nitrogen Oxides; D004247:DNA; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III