title: Genetic Variants in the Vicinity of LGALS-3 Gene and LGALS-3 mRNA Expression in Advanced Carotid Atherosclerosis: An Exploratory Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research has shown that there is an association between galectin-3 (gal-3) protein and cardiovascular pathology. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of rs2274273 and rs17128183 on genetic susceptibility to advanced carotid atherosclerosis (CA) and its complications. The rs2274273 has been singled out as the lead SNP of the haplotype block containing LGALS-3 (gal-3 gene) associated with gal-3 circulating levels, while rs17128183 constitutes a potentially functional SNP of the same hap-block. We further sought to determine whether these genetic variants have an impact on the expression of LGALS-3 mRNA in human carotid atherosclerotic plaque tissue.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study encompassed 300 control subjects and 485 patients with advanced CA who had undergone carotid endarterectomy. Rs2274273, rs17128183, and LGALS-3 relative mRNA expression was detected by means of real-time PCR (TaqMan®technology).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant associations of the investigated genetic variants with susceptibility to advanced CA, nor did we find any associations in terms of ultrasonographically defined plaque phenotypes. The relative expression of LGALS-3 mRNA proved to be significantly higher in carriers of the rare alleles (P = 0.039) for both genetic variants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our exploratory results suggest that while rs2274273 and rs17128183 bear no association with the risk of advanced CA or CA-related complications, these genetic variants are likely to affect LGALS-3 expression levels. In order to reach a definitive conclusion on the role played by rs2274273 and rs17128183 in advanced CA, our results should be further validated.
authors.affiliation: VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Djordjevic
authors.affiliation: VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zivkovic
authors.affiliation: VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.affiliation: VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zivotic
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.|Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Koncar
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia.|Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Lazar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Davidovic
authors.affiliation: VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Dragan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alavantic
authors.affiliation: VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences, Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. tamariska@vinca.rs.
authors.forename: Tamara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Djuric
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001798:Blood Proteins; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D037502:Galectin 3 / Q000235:genetics*; D037161:Galectins; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D037502:Galectin 3; D037161:Galectins; C428445:LGALS3 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: 
  LGALS-3
  ; atherosclerosis; carotid plaque; gene expression; rs17128183; rs2274273