Lack of an association between connexin-37, stromelysin-1, plasminogen activator-inhibitor type 1 and lymphotoxin-alpha genes and acute coronary syndrome in Czech Caucasians.

BACKGROUND: The majority of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) cases cannot be explained by the analysis of commonly recognized risk factors; thus, the analysis of possible genetic predispositions is of interest. The genes for connexin-37, stromelysin-1, plasminogen activator-inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and lymphotoxin-alpha are among many presently known candidate genes that are associated with risk factors for ACS. OBJECTIVE: To identify the potential impact of the functional variants of connexin-37, stromelysin-1, PAI-1 and lymphotoxin-alpha on ACS in a Caucasian Czech population. METHODS: A total of 1399 consecutive patients (1016 men and 383 women) with ACS from five coronary care units located in Prague (Czech Republic) were analyzed; a representative sample of 2559 healthy individuals (1191 men and 1368 women) were also genotyped and served as controls. RESULTS: The gene variants analyzed were not significantly associated with the prevalence of ACS or the classical risk factors of ACS development such as high plasma lipid levels, hypertension, diabetes, high body mass index or smoking. CONCLUSION: In a Caucasian Czech population sample, genetic variants of connexin-37, stromelysin-1, PAI-1 and lymphotoxin-alpha were not significantly associated with a predisposition toward ACS.

A FTO variant and risk of acute coronary syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The FTO gene plays an important role in the determination of body weight and BMI and it has been suspected of being associated with all-case mortality. METHODS: We have analyzed the FTO rs17817449 variant in consecutive 1092 male patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and in 1191 randomly selected Caucasian individuals (population controls). RESULTS: The FTO variant was significantly associated with BMI both in controls (P<0.02) and ACS patients (P<0.01). In both groups, BMI was highest in GG homozygotes and lowest in TT homozygotes. There was a significant difference between the ACS patients and controls in the frequency of the FTO genotype GG (21.4% vs. 15.9%, P<0.005). FTO GG homozygotes had a significantly increased risk of ACS, compared with TT homozygotes which was independent of age and BMI (odds ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.16-1.93). The odds ratio of ACS patients for the GG genotype remained significant even after the exclusion of diabetics (100 controls and 339 ACS patients), with OR 1.32 (95% CI 1.01-1.72). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides an evidence of an association between the FTO variant and risk of ACS in Caucasian males.