Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma Pro12Ala polymorphism is associated with the susceptibility to ischemic stroke in Taeeumin classified by Sasang medicine.
BACKGROUND
Sasang constitutional medicine classifies mankind into four constitutional types according to individual psychologic and physical traits. We hypothesized that differences among constitutional types might be explained by genetic variations.


METHODS
To evaluate the hypothesis, we determined the possible association in ischemic stroke patients (n = 134) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma with four constitutional types of Sasang medicine. The constitutional type of each patient and control subject (n = 129) was classified and genotyped for PPAR-gamma polymorphism Pro12Ala by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) methods.


RESULTS
The distribution of the Pro/Ala genotypes in the ischemic stroke patients was not significantly different from that of healthy controls [odds ratio (OR)= 0.46; p = 0.1214]. However, very interestingly, we observed that all six Pro/Ala genotypes in ischemic patients were Taeeumin, one of four constitutional types of Sasang medicine. Statistical analysis revealed that Pro/Ala genotype in Taeeumin increases almost 15-fold the susceptibility to ischemic stroke compared to other constitutional types, Taeyangin, Soyangin or Soeumin (OR= 14.72; p = 0.0110).


CONCLUSIONS
From the results in this study, we might suggest that Pro/Ala genotype in Taeeumin is associated with the susceptibility to ischemic stroke. To the author's best knowledge, this is the first report to study on genetic level the potential relationship between ischemic stroke and Sasang constitutional medicine, one of traditional Korean medicines (TKM). Authors hope that this study could provide a new approach for the study of ischemic stroke and merit further research.
Lee
Byung-Cheol
BC
Department of Oriental Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 130-701, Korea.
Doo
Ho-Kyung
HK
Ahn
Se-Young
SY
Byun
Sang-Hyuk
SH
Kim
Soon-Il
SI
Park
Hun-Kuk
HK
Hong
Meesuk
M
Ha
Eunyoung
E
Yim
Sung-Vin
SV
Yin
Changshik
C
Leem
Kang-Hyun
KH
Ahn
Young-Min
YM
D000368:Aged; D000409:Alanine / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008518:Medicine, East Asian Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics*; D010686:Philosophy, Medical; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011392:Proline / Q000235:genetics*; D020521:Stroke / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
D047495:PPAR gamma; D011392:Proline; D000409:Alanine