title: COX-2 gene promoter polymorphism and coronary artery disease in middle-aged men: the Helsinki sudden death study.
abstract: Cyclooxygenase (COX) catalyzes formation of prostaglandins that contribute to the inflammation in atherosclerosis. Our objective was to study whether the functional C variant of the -765G-->C polymorphism in the human COX-2 gene associates with the severity of coronary atherosclerosis measured at the coronary artery level. The Helsinki sudden death study autopsy material (n = 300) comprised of Finnish men who died suddenly. The area of atherosclerotic lesions in the coronary arteries was quantitated, and coronary narrowing was measured. The occurrence of myocardial infarction (MI) was assessed. Genotyping was by restriction endonuclease analysis. Men carrying the minor C allele had larger areas of complicated lesions (P = .024) and a higher number of coronary arteries that had over 50% stenosis (P = .036) compared to men representing the common GG genotype. The COX-2 polymorphism was not associated with MI. Our data suggest that COX-2 may be involved in plaque growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical School, University of Tampere, 33104 Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Kati H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huuskonen
authors.forename: Tarja A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kunnas
authors.forename: Minna M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Jussi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mikkelsson
authors.forename: Erkki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ilveskoski
authors.forename: Pekka J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Karhunen
authors.forename: Seppo T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Nikkari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics*; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000209:etiology; D005387:Finland; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; C496540:PTGS2 protein, human