Impaired abdominal aortic wall integrity in elderly men carrying the angiotensin-converting enzyme D allele

Gender difference and genetic variance in lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 is associated with mortality

Cardiovascular diseases are an important health resource problem and studies have shown a genetic association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and cardiovascular diseases. According to the literature, lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is associated with coronary artery disease. The aim of the present study was to evaluate a possible association between different genotypes of LRP1 and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality from a gender perspective. In the present study, 489 elderly community-living people were invited to participate. Clinical examination, echocardiography and blood sampling including SNP analyses of LRP1 (rs1466535) were performed, including the T/T, C/T and C/C genotypes, and the participants were followed for 6.7 years. During the follow-up period, 116 (24%) all-cause and 75 (15%) cardiovascular deaths were registered. In the female population, the LRP1 of the T/T or C/T genotype exhibited a 5.6-fold increased risk of cardiovascular mortality and a 2.8-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality compared with the C/C genotype. No such genotype differences could be seen in the male population. Gender differences could be seen regarding the risk of mortality in the different genotypes. Females with the LRP1 T/T or C/T genotypes exhibited a significantly increased risk of both all-cause and cardiovascular mortality compared with the C/C genotypes. Therefore, more individualized cardiovascular prevention and treatment should be prioritized. However, since this was a small study, the observations should only be regarded as hypothesis-generating.

PDGF-D gene polymorphism is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality in elderly men

Background

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) D has been reported to be active in fibroblasts, and in areas of myocardial infarction. In this longitudinal study we evaluated the association between PDGF-D polymorphism and cardiovascular mortality, and attempted to discover whether specific genotype differences regarding risk could be observed, and if gender differences could be seen.

Methods

Four hundred seventy-six elderly community participants were included in this study. All participants underwent a clinical examination, echocardiography, and blood sampling including PDGF-D single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses of the rs974819 A/A, G/A and G/G SNP. The follow-up time was 6.7 years.

Results

No specific genotype of rs974819 demonstrated increased cardiovascular mortality in the total population, however, the male group with genotypes A/A and G/A demonstrated an increased risk that persisted in a multivariate evaluation where adjustments were made for well-known cardiovascular risk factors (2.7 fold compared with the G/G genotype). No corresponding finding was observed in the female group.

Conclusion

We report here for the first time that the genotypes G/A or A/A of the SNP rs974819 near PDGF-D exhibited a 2.7 fold increased cardiovascular mortality risk in males. Corresponding increased risk could not be observed in either the total population and thus not in the female group. However, the sample size is was small and the results should be regarded as hypothesis-generating, and thus more research in the field is recommended.

Recent Advances in the Genetics of Hypertension

Hypertension is a silent killer worldwide, caused by both genetic and environmental factors. Until now, genetic and genomic association studies of hypertension are reporting different degree of association on hypertension. Hence, it is essential to gather all the available information on the reported genetic loci and to determine if any biomarker(s) is/are significantly associated with hypertension. Current review concluded the potential biomarkers for hypertension, with regards to electrolyte and fluid transports, as well as sodium/potassium ions homeostasis, which are supported by the results of case-controls and meta-analyses.

Associations between the insertion/deletion polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme and susceptibility to aortic aneurysms: A meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study is to examine whether the insertion (I) and deletion (D) polymorphism of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) confers susceptibility to aortic aneurysms (AAs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the ACE I/D polymorphism and all AAs and abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs).

RESULTS

Ten studies consisting of 2784 cases and 2682 controls were available for the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis showed a significant association between the D allele and all types of AA (OR 1.378, 95% CI 1.103-1.723, p = 0.005) and AAA (OR 1.274, 95% CI 1.004-1.617, p = 0.046). Meta-analysis of both the DD genotype and the DD vs. II genotype showed an association with AAAs. Stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the D allele of the ACE I/D polymorphism and AAAs in Europeans (OR = 1.338, 95% CI = 1.026-1.745, p = 0.031), but not in Asians (OR = 0.927, 95% CI = 0.660-1.303, p = 0.663). Furthermore, analysis using the recessive model, dominant model, and homozygote contrast all showed the same pattern for the D allele.

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis demonstrates that the ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to AAAs in European populations.

Associations of genetic polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system with central aortic and ambulatory blood pressure in type 2 diabetic patients

Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are at high risk of developing hypertension and related cardiovascular disease. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a central role in regulation of blood pressure (BP). Accordingly, each component of this system represents a potential candidate in the etiology of hypertension. This study investigated the impact of polymorphisms within the RAS on ambulatory and central BP in T2D subjects. A cohort of 761 subjects (55-65 years) with T2D was studied. Ambulatory and central BP were measured, and ACE I/D genotype, angiotensinogen M235T, renin rs6693954 and ATR1-A1166C polymorphisms were analyzed. Women carrying the AA-genotype had lower 24-hour and day-time systolic and diastolic BP (p<0.05), and lower night-time and central diastolic BP (p<0.05), compared to T allele carriers. In men, the AA-genotype was instead associated with higher central diastolic BP (p=0.018) and higher augmentation index (p=0.016). Further, the associations between the renin rs6693954 SNP and diastolic BP were strongly gender dependent (p≤0.001). In T2D patients, there is a gender-dependent association of the renin rs6693954 SNP with central and ambulatory BP. Women carrying the renin rs6693954 AA-genotype may be protected against the higher BP seen in men with the same genotype.