title: Correlation of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A gene with carotid plaques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) is abundantly expressed in carotid plaques. This study investigated the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of PAPP-A and the presence of carotid plaques.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 408 patients with carotid plaques and 493 controls were included in the study. All subjects were Southern Chinese Han. Carotid plaques were analyzed by computer tomography angiography. PAPP-A SNPs were identified by ligase detection reaction-polymerase chain reaction analysis. The PAPP-A genotypes rs3747823, rs7020782, and rs13290387 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rs7020782 C allele genotype correlated with an increased risk of developing carotid plaques under the dominant, recessive, and additive models (adjusted odds ratios: 2.60, 2.36, and 3.48, respectively; P ≤ 0.001). Only C allele-carrying genotypes correlated with a significantly increased risk of carotid plaque based on studies stratified by age and sex under the dominant model. rs7020782 remained significantly associated with the risk of carotid plaque calcification after adjusting for age and potential confounders (adjusted odds ratio, 1.89; 95 % confidence interval, 1.17-3.08; P = 0.010).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found, for the first time, that the A˃C variation of rs7020782 might be an independent risk factor for carotid plaque development and calcification. The determination of such genotypes could provide a new tool for identifying individuals at high risk for carotid atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, No. 10 Changjiang Branch Road, Daping, Chongqing, 400042, China. truezsm@163.com.
authors.forename: Shiming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, No. 10 Changjiang Branch Road, Daping, Chongqing, 400042, China. Cuimin9@163.com.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, No. 10 Changjiang Branch Road, Daping, Chongqing, 400042, China. yinzegang@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Zegang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, No. 10 Changjiang Branch Road, Daping, Chongqing, 400042, China. 348102720@qq.com.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, No. 10 Changjiang Branch Road, Daping, Chongqing, 400042, China. dpapof@sina.com.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, No. 10 Changjiang Branch Road, Daping, Chongqing, 400042, China. zhouhuadtmmu@163.com.
authors.forename: Huadong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000235:genetics*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A; C579283:PAPPA protein, human