Association of a 27-bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of endothelial constitutive nitric oxide synthase gene with myocardial infarction in Tunisian patients.
BACKGROUND
Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mediates endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and antithrombotic action. Controversial results regarding the association of eNOS gene (NOS3) polymorphisms with myocardial infarction (MI) have been reported. In the present study, we examined a possible association between a 27-base pair (bp) repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the NOS3 gene and MI in a subgroup of the Tunisian population.


METHODS
A total of 310 Tunisian patients with MI and 250 healthy controls were included in the study. The NOS3 gene intron 4a4b variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism was analyzed by PCR.


RESULTS
A significant difference in genotype distribution and allele frequency was observed between patients and controls. Patients with MI had a frequency of 4.8% for the 4a4a genotype, 33.9% for the 4a4b genotype and 61.3% for the 4b4b genotype. Controls had a frequency of only 1.6% for the 4a4a genotype, 24.4% for the 4a4b genotype and 74.0% for the 4b4b genotype (chi2=11.81, p=0.003). The MI patient group showed a significant higher frequency of the 4a allele compared to controls (0.218 vs. 0.139; chi2=5.81, p=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, a significant association between the NOS34a/4b gene polymorphism (presence of 4a allele) and MI in the Tunisian population was found.
Jemaa
Riadh
R
Laboratoire de Recherche LAB-SM-01, Service de Biochimie, Hôpital la Rabta, Tunis, Tunisia. jemaa_riadh@yahoo.fr
Kallel
Amani
A
Ben Ali
Samir
S
Omar
Souheil
S
Chabrak
Sonia
S
Elasmi
Monia
M
Haj Taieb
Sameh
S
Sanhaji
Haïfa
H
Feki
Moncef
M
Mechmeche
Rachid
R
Kaabachi
Naziha
N
D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006801:Humans; D007438:Introns; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014416:Tunisia
D017931:DNA Primers; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III