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Association of COMT gene polymorphisms with systemic atherosclerosis in elderly Japanese.
- Source :
-
Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis [J Atheroscler Thromb] 2012; Vol. 19 (6), pp. 552-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Jun 06. - Publication Year :
- 2012
-
Abstract
- Aim: Atherosclerotic disease is a major health problem among the elderly, which arises from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene encodes an enzyme that degrades catecholamines and estrogens to less active metabolites. The objective of this study was to examine whether polymorphisms of the COMT gene affected the severity of atherosclerotic disease in a Japanese elderly population.<br />Method: A total of 1536 autopsy cases of hospital deaths were assessed for the degree of pathological atherosclerotic index (PAI), coronary stenotic index (CSI) and intracranial stenotic index (ICAI), which were obtained by macroscopic examination of the luminal surface of formalin-fixed arteries. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the COMT gene, rs4633 (C/T) and rs4680 (G/A) were genotyped. The rs4680 (G/A) corresponds to a functional SNP with the substitution of valine to methionine.<br />Result: The CC genotype of rs4633 (C/T) and the GG genotype of rs4680 (G/A) showed a significantly higher degree of PAI and the association remained positive after adjustment for age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking and drinking (p=0.035 and p=0.031, respectively). There were no significant associations between COMT genotypes and CSI or ICAI. When male and female subjects were analyzed separately, the association was observed only in female subjects (p=0.012 and p=0.027) after adjustment for age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking and drinking.<br />Conclusion: The functional SNP in the COMT gene associated with the severity of atherosclerosis in a Japanese elderly population, whereby the influence of the genotype appears to be stronger in females than in males.
- Subjects :
- Aged, 80 and over
Atherosclerosis blood
Autopsy
Biomarkers blood
Female
Genotype
Humans
Japan epidemiology
Male
Polymerase Chain Reaction
Prognosis
Asian People genetics
Atherosclerosis epidemiology
Atherosclerosis genetics
Catechol O-Methyltransferase genetics
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide genetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1880-3873
- Volume :
- 19
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of atherosclerosis and thrombosis
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 22790479
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.11254