DNA variants, plasma levels and variability of C-reactive protein in myocardial infarction survivors: results from the AIRGENE study.
OBJECTIVE
C-reactive protein represents the classical acute-phase protein produced in the liver in response to inflammatory stimuli. This study evaluated the association of gene polymorphisms with differences in C-reactive protein concentrations and assessed its intra-individual variability as a marker of individual response.


RESULTS
One thousand and three myocardial infarction (MI) survivors were recruited in six European cities, and C-reactive protein concentrations were measured repeatedly during a 6-month period. We investigated 114 polymorphisms in 13 genes, all involved in the innate inflammatory pathway. We found two polymorphisms within the C-reactive protein (CRP) gene rs1800947 and rs1205, of which the minor alleles were strongly associated with lower levels of C-reactive protein (P < 10(-6)). A haplotype, identified by those two polymorphisms, was associated with the lowest C-reactive protein concentrations (P < 10(-6)). Additionally, the minor alleles of several variants were significantly associated with greater individual variability of C-reactive protein concentrations (P < 10(-3)).


CONCLUSIONS
The present study investigated the association of polymorphisms with inter- and intra-individual variability of C-reactive protein levels. Two minor alleles of C-reactive protein variants were associated with lower C-reactive protein concentrations. Regarding intra-individual variability, we observed associations with the minor alleles of several variants in selected candidate genes, including the CRP gene itself.
Kolz
Melanie
M
GSF National Research Center for Environment and Health, Institute of Epidemiology, Neuherberg, Germany.
Koenig
Wolfgang
W
Müller
Martina
M
Andreani
Mariarita
M
Greven
Sonja
S
Illig
Thomas
T
Khuseyinova
Natalie
N
Panagiotakos
Demosthenes
D
Pershagen
Göran
G
Salomaa
Veikko
V
Sunyer
Jordi
J
Peters
Annette
A
D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004247:DNA