title: -786T>C polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene in Chilean subjects with coronary artery disease and controls.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The vascular endothelium plays an important role in the atherosclerotic process through the release of mediators such as nitric oxide. The NO relaxes vascular smooth muscle, inhibits platelet activation, and modulates migration and growth of vascular smooth muscle cells; consequently eNOS may have a significant atheroprotective function through this mechanism. The -786T>C polymorphism of the eNOS gene has been implicated in the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the possible association between presence of CAD documented by angiography and the -786T>C polymorphism of the NOS3 gene in Chilean individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 112 unrelated patients with diagnosis of CAD and 109 controls were included in this study. The -786T>C gene polymorphism was analyzed by PCR-RFLP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of CC homozygous genotype for -786T>C polymorphism was 6% in CAD patients and 4% in the control group. However, the genotype distribution and allele frequencies were not significantly different between CAD and control subjects (P=NS). Moreover, the odds ratio for CAD associated with the C variant failed to reach statistical significance (OR=1.03; 95% CI: 0.60-1.76, P=NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the -786T>C polymorphism of the eNOS gene was not associated with CAD in study Chilean individuals.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Molecular & Farmacogenética, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145, Casilla 54-D, Temuco, Chile.
authors.forename: Priscilla C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Jaramillo
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lanas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lanas
authors.forename: Luis A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Salazar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002677:Chile; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III