Background: The association between L162V polymorphism in the gene for peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and the development of coronary heart disease was examined.
Methods: PPAR-alpha polymorphism was determined in 48 men with angiographically confirmed coronary atherosclerosis and in 51 healthy men.
Results: The frequency of the V allele of the L162V polymorphism was four times higher in men with atherosclerosis (0.25 in studied group and 0.06 in controls). The polymorphism was not associated with changes in body mass index, lipid pattern, serum adhesion molecules, or vasoactive agents concentrations. The effect of the polymorphism on the serum interleukin-6 level (IL-6) was observed (p<0.01). The serum IL-6 level was higher in homozygotic than in heterozygotic subjects (p<0.02). Multivariate regression analysis showed the existence of a relationship between simvastatin therapy and serum IL-6 level (r=0.83; p<0.05) in the homozygotic men. While in homozygotic patients with atherosclerosis a negative linear correlation between serum IL-6 and NO concentration was shown, in heterozygotic men positive correlations between IL-6 or HDL cholesterol and adhesion molecule levels were found.
Conclusion: L162V polymorphism in the gene for PPAR-alpha seems to be associated with atherosclerosis through a mechanism including regulation of the IL-6 level.