The interleukin-6 promoter polymorphism is associated with elevated leukocyte, lymphocyte, and monocyte counts and reduced physical fitness in young healthy smokers.

Smoking and interleukin-6 are important factors in driving inflammation. This study assessed the relationship between smoking, interleukin-6 genotype, physical fitness, and peripheral blood count in healthy young men. For this interleukin-6 promoter polymorphism -174 genotype-phenotype association study 1,929 healthy German male aviators recruited at the central German Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine were stratified by smoking habits. Cardiovascular fitness was expressed as maximal physical working capacity (PWCmax) in watts per kilogram body weight as assessed by maximal exercise testing by cycle ergometry up to physical exhaustion. Smokers had higher leukocyte and lymphocyte counts than nonsmokers and lower PWCmax. In the overall study population the C allele of the interleukin-6 polymorphism was weakly associated with elevated leukocytes and lymphocytes; in nonsmokers the interleukin-6 polymorphism was not associated with altered phenotypes, but in smokers the interleukin-6 C allele was associated with higher leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes and with lower PWCmax. Smoking is thus associated with elevated leukocytes and lymphocytes and with reduced physical fitness. Gene carriers with the interleukin-6 C allele may suffer particularly from cigarette smoking.

Relation between the angiotensinogen (AGT) M235T gene polymorphism and blood pressure in a large, homogeneous study population.

The aim of this study was to assess the association of the angiotensinogen M235T polymorphism with arterial blood pressure (BP) at rest and under physical stress in a homogeneous large-scale study population. In all, 1903 men who passed routine medical examination for military flying duty were recruited. BP and heart rate were measured at rest, during, and after bicycle ergometry. Genotyping for the AGT M235T polymorphism was carried out by PCR and RFLP technique. The AGT T235 allele was associated with a significantly higher diastolic BP (n=1903; MM 81+/-8, MT 83+/-7, TT 83+/-8; P=0.003). Pulse pressure (PP) at rest differed significantly between AGT genotypes (n=1903; MM 51+/-10 mmHg, MT 49+/-10 mmHg, TT 49+/-10 mmHg; P=0.001). During physical activity, BP values showed no significant difference between genotypes. In healthy young men, the AGT T235 allele is significantly associated with elevated diastolic BP but also reduced PP at rest. During physical activity, the AGT polymorphism had no impact on blood pressure, indicating the existence of other counteracting mechanisms, which might balance the influence of this gene.

Robust association of the APOE epsilon4 allele with premature myocardial infarction especially in patients without hypercholesterolaemia: the Aachen study.

BACKGROUND: Genetic influence on the manifestation of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI) has been shown previously. From many candidate genes the APOE (apolipoprotein E) with the major alleles epsilon2/epsilon3/epsilon4 is in the focus of interest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1817 patients admitted for their first left heart catheterization at a premature age (males < 55 and females < 65) the association of APOE alleles with MI was analysed. Genotyping was done by 5' exonuclease assay (TaqMan). RESULTS APOE was significantly associated with hypercholesterolaemia (epsilon4 72% vs. epsilon3 66% vs. epsilon2 51%; P < 0.0001), and premature MI (epsilon4 57% vs. epsilon3 50% vs. epsilon2 41%; P < 0.0001; hazard ratio 1.41, 95%CI 1.14-1.75). In patients without hypercholesterolaemia, the APOE allele epsilon4 was highly predictive for the presence of premature MI (epsilon4 55% vs. epsilon3 45% vs. epsilon2 28%; P < 0.0001; hazard ratio 1.75, 95%CI 1.19-2.57). CONCLUSION: The APOEepsilon4 allele shows a robust association with premature MI independent of hypercholesterolaemia.

APOE alleles are not associated with calcific aortic stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyse the association of APOE alleles with aortic stenosis (AS) in a large study population. METHODS: Patients with AS (n = 538) and a control group of the same age without heart disease (n = 536) were recruited. Left heart catheterisation was performed and mean gradient, aortic valve area, presence of stenotic coronary artery disease (CAD) and cardiovascular risk factors (hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus and family history of CAD) were assessed. The frequency of the APOE major alleles e2, e3 and e4 was assessed by genotyping the polymorphisms APOE334 and APOE472 with a 5' exonuclease assay (TaqMan). RESULTS: Mean gradient across the aortic valve in cases was 50 (SD 20) mm Hg corresponding to a mean aortic valve area of 0.84 (SD 0.34) cm(2). 270 patients with AS had stenotic CAD. Among patients with AS, the prevalence of hypercholesterolaemia (64% v 40%, p < 0.001), smoking (43% v 27%, p < 0.001), diabetes (27% v 17%, p < 0.01), family history of CAD (30% v 21%, p 0.10). CONCLUSION: APOE e4 is not associated with AS, reflecting the different genetic backgrounds of CAD and AS.