Lack of association between a functional genetic variant of connexin 37 and ischemic stroke in a Taiwanese population.
BACKGROUND
Connexin 37, encoded by the GJA4 gene, protects against atherosclerosis. A recent study reported an association between polymorphism rs1764391 at GJA4 and ischemic stroke in a Chinese population. We aimed to replicate this result.


METHODS
A total of 958 ischemic stroke patients and 2196 controls were enrolled for the study. All participants were Chinese residing in Taiwan. Logistic regression analysis with adjustment for traditional risk factors was used to estimate the genetic effect. We also performed stratification analyses by sex and stroke subtypes. Literature reviews were conducted for available genetic association studies investigating rs1764391 and cardiovascular phenotypes.


RESULTS
We did not find any significant association for overall stroke (p=0.87) or from any subset analyses. Eight studies addressing the associations between rs1764391 and cardiovascular phenotypes had a sample size greater than 1000. Including the present study, five out of the eight large-scale studies found no association.


CONCLUSIONS
GJA4 polymorphism is not associated with stroke risk in the Taiwanese population.
Department of Medical Genetics, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Suh-Hang Hank
SH
Juo
Yi-Chu
YC
Liao
Hsiu-Fen
HF
Lin
Po-Lin
PL
Chen
Wen-Yi
WY
Lin
Ruey-Tay
RT
Lin
D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017630:Connexins / Q000235:genetics*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D008040:Genetic Linkage / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein
D017630:Connexins; D000097006:Gap Junction alpha-4 Protein