title: Polymorphic variation in choline transporter gene (CHT1) is associated with early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis in humans.
abstract: Atherosclerosis is a heritable trait with little known about specific genetic influences on preclinical measures of plaque formation. Based on relations of parasympathetic-cholinergic function to atherosclerosis and to a choline transporter gene [CHT1 (G/T)] polymorphism, we investigated whether the same allelic variant predicts variation in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and plaque formation. Carotid IMT and plaque occurrence as well as genotyping for the CHT1 (G/T) variant were measured in a sample (N = 264) of generally healthy adults (age 30-55) of European ancestry. CHT1 GG homozygotes had greater IMT (P < 0.005) and plaque occurrence (P < 0.020) than T allele carriers. This is the first study showing polymorphic variation in the CHT1 gene to predict early, subclinical measures of carotid atherosclerosis which may aid in understanding cholinergic-vagal processes potentially underlying atherosclerotic risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Eastern Virginia Medical School, 825 Fairfax Avenue, 731 Hofheimer Hall, PO Box 1980, Norfolk, VA 23501-1980, USA. neumansa@evms.edu
authors.forename: Serina A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Muldoon
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sutton-Tyrrell
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.forename: Catherine J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shrader
authors.forename: Elizabeth C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Ferrell
authors.forename: Stephen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Manuck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010414:Pennsylvania / Q000453:epidemiology; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D027981:Symporters / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C510731:SLC5A7 protein, human; D027981:Symporters