title: Meta-analysis of the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in TGF-β receptor genes and abdominal aortic aneurysm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The role of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is controversial. The aim of this study was to assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within TGFBR1 and TGFBR2 with AAA and infrarenal aortic diameter by combining data from previously published studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a meta-analysis using individual subject data from three independent case-control groups from Western Australia (n=1675), New Zealand (n=1209), and the Netherlands (n=1636) with 610, 601, and 693 cases of AAA (maximum infrarenal aortic diameter ≥30 mm), respectively. Data were available for two TGFBR1 (rs10819634, rs1571590) and six TGFBR2 (rs304839, rs1346907, rs1036095, rs9831477, rs9843143, rs764522) SNPs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was marked heterogeneity between studies. The G alleles of the TGFBR2 rs764522 and rs1036095 SNPs were associated with AAA under a recessive model (OR=1.69, 95% CI 1.28-2.25, P<0.001 and OR=1.59, 95% CI 1.23-2.07, P<0.001) when a fixed effects model was used. Both associations remained significant after adjustment for multiple testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that two common genetic polymorphisms in TGFBR2 are associated with the risk of developing AAA although this association was mainly driven by findings in the Netherlands group and marked between study heterogeneity was detected.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Biology Unit, School of Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biros
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Norman
authors.forename: Gregory T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Andre M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Rij
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Joseph V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Moxon
authors.forename: Jan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Blankensteijn
authors.forename: Steven M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: van Sterkenburg
authors.forename: Dylan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Annette F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Baas
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Golledge
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D009520:New Zealand; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000235:genetics*; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077293:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type I; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; C000625841:TGFBR1 protein, human