Lack of association between the MEF2A gene and myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI) are caused in part by genetic factors. Recently, the MEF2A gene was linked to MI/CAD in a single pedigree with autosomal-dominant pattern of inheritance. In addition, genetic variants within the gene have been associated with MI in case-control settings, producing inconsistent results.


RESULTS
The MEF2A gene was sequenced in MI patients from 23 MI families (> or =5 affected members per family), but no mutation was identified in any of these extended families. Moreover, the Pro279Leu variant in exon 7 was analyzed in 1181 unrelated MI patients with a positive family history for MI/CAD, in 533 patients with sporadic MI, and in 2 control populations (n=1021 and n=1055), showing no evidence for association with MI/CAD. In addition, a (CAG)n repeat in exon 11 was genotyped in 543 sporadic MI patients and in 1190 controls without evidence for association with MI. Finally, analyzing 11 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from the GeneChip Mapping 500K Array, genotyped in 1644 controls and 753 cases, failed to provide evidence for association (region-wide P=0.23).


CONCLUSIONS
Studying independent samples of >1700 MI patients, 2 large control populations, and multiple families with apparently mendelian inheritance of the disease, we found no evidence for any linkage or association signal in the MEF2A gene.
Lieb
Wolfgang
W
Medizinische Klinik II, Universität zu Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany.
Mayer
Björn
B
König
Inke R
IR
Borwitzky
Iris
I
Götz
Anika
A
Kain
Silke
S
Hengstenberg
Christian
C
Linsel-Nitschke
Patrick
P
Fischer
Marcus
M
Döring
Angela
A
Wichmann
H-Erich
HE
Meitinger
Thomas
T
Kreutz
Reinhold
R
Ziegler
Andreas
A
Schunkert
Heribert
H
Erdmann
Jeanette
J
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D040582:Inheritance Patterns; D026161:MADS Domain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D026161:MADS Domain Proteins; D064326:MEF2 Transcription Factors; C578035:MEF2A protein, human; D018006:Myogenic Regulatory Factors