CD36 polymorphism and its relationship with body mass index and coronary artery disease in a Korean population.
BACKGROUND
CD36 is a multifunctional membrane receptor and a cell-adhesion molecule that is expressed in platelets, monocytes/macrophages, microvascular endothelial cells, cardiac monocytes and adipocytes. In this study, we investigated whether genetic polymorphisms of the CD36 gene are associated with risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a Korean population.


METHODS
PCR and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays were performed to analyze the following CD36 gene polymorphisms: a (TG) repeat in intron 3 and the base substitution 478C>T (Pro90Ser). A total of 219 patients with significant CAD and 236 control subjects were examined with regard to their genotypes, lipid profiles and other risk factors for CAD.


RESULTS
The frequency of (TG) 11- or 12-repeat homozygotes was significantly higher in male CAD patients than in control men (28.4% vs. 15.7%, OR=2.13, p=0.018). Homozygosity for the (TG) 11- or 12-repeat allele was also significantly associated with a higher body mass index (BMI) compared to non-carriers in 134 control men after controlling for age, smoking and hypertension, and explains a 13% BMI variation observed in this study (p=0.015, analysis of covariance). For the 478C >T mutation, which has been reported to be associated with CD36 deficiency, there was no difference in the frequency of the 478T allele between CAD patients and control subjects. However, the 478T allele was found to be closely linked with a (TG) 11- or 12-repeat allele of intron 3 in the control subjects (chi2=18.88, p<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The (TG) repeat polymorphism in intron 3 of the CD36 gene is associated with a higher BMI and cardiovascular risk for men in a Korean population.
Yun
Yeo Min
YM
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Konkuk University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Song
Eun Young
EY
Song
Sang Hoon
SH
Song
Junghan
J
Kim
Jin Q
JQ
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007723:Korea; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D044382:Population Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking
D018955:CD36 Antigens; D008055:Lipids