Polymorphism in the MHC2TA gene is associated with features of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular mortality.
BACKGROUND
Recently, a -168A-->G polymorphism in the MHC class II transactivator gene (MHC2TA) was shown to be associated with increased susceptibility to myocardial infarction (MI).


OBJECTIVE
To confirm the association between the MHC2TA -168A-->G polymorphism and MI and to study its putative role for microalbuminuria, the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cardiovascular mortality.


METHODS
Using an allelic discrimination method we genotyped 11,064 individuals from three study populations: 1) 4,432 individuals from the Botnia type 2 diabetes (T2D) study, 2) 1,222 patients with MI and 2,345 control subjects participating in the Malmö Diet and Cancer study and comprising an MI case-control sample, and 3) 3,065 T2D patients from the Local Swedish Diabetes registry.


RESULTS
No association between the -168A-->G polymorphism in MHC2TA and MI was observed. However, in the Botnia cohort the AG/GG genotypes were associated with cardiovascular mortality after MI (1.78 [1.09-2.92], p = 0.02). In addition, the AG/GG genotypes were more common in subjects with MetS (40.1% vs. 36.9%, p = 0.03) and in non-diabetic subjects with microalbuminuria (45.4% vs. 36.5%, p = 0.003) compared to control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
A polymorphism in MHC2TA was associated with cardiovascular mortality and predictors of cardiovascular mortality, microalbuminuria and MetS.
Lindholm
Eero
E
Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Research Center, University Hospital Malmö (MAS), Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. Eero.Lindholm@med.lu.se
Melander
Olle
O
Almgren
Peter
P
Berglund
Göran
G
Agardh
Carl-David
CD
Groop
Leif
L
Orho-Melander
Marju
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000483:Alleles; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics*
C083728:MHC class II transactivator protein; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators