title: Genetic variants and haplotypes of lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 and their influence on cardiovascular disease (The Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health Study).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is increasing evidence that lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (LpPLA2) is associated with cardiovascular disease. However, it is still unclear whether LpPLA2 is simply a marker or has a causal role as either a pro- or anti-atherogenic factor.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the association of five polymorphisms (-1357G>A, -403T>C, Arg92His, Ile198Thr, Ala379Val) and related haplotypes at the PLA2G7 locus with angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD), plasma LpPLA2 activity, and long-term survival in 3234 patients scheduled for coronary angiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The promoter variant -403C and His(92) were associated with a decrease and Val(379) with an increase in plasma LpPLA2 activity. Both coding variants revealed a clear gene-dose effect. Interestingly, the rare Thr(198) allele, which was not associated with any change in plasma LpPLA2 activity, was more frequent in subjects without CAD (P = 0.009), with an adjusted odds ratio for CAD of 0.69 (95% CI: 0.49-0.96; P = 0.029). None of the analyzed variants showed any robust association with all-cause or cardiovascular mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irrespective of the significant association between some variants with plasma LpPLA2 activity, it is still unclear whether these polymorphisms or haplotypes are associated with the risk and outcome of cardiovascular disease in Caucasians.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Chemistry, Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. michael.marcus.hoffmann@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Winkler
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Renner
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Winkelmann
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Seelhorst
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wellnitz
authors.forename: B O
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: März
mesh_terms: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase / Q000235:genetics*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000401:mortality; D018628:Gene Dosage; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D043203:1-Alkyl-2-acetylglycerophosphocholine Esterase