Objective: To study the linkage between K469E polymorphism of intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM1) gene with ICAM1 plasma level and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Han population of China.
Methods: One hundred and sixty-four controls without CHD and 160 patients with CHD were enrolled in our study. By nested PCR with allele-specific oligonucleotide primers, all patients and controls were genotyped for the ICAM1 polymorphism. And the ICAM1 plasma level was measured by ELISA.
Results: In the patients with CHD, both K allele frequency and the plasma level of ICAM1 were higher than those in control (P<0.05). The individual with K allele had higher plasma level of ICAM1 than that without K allele (344.34+/-128.59 microg/L vs 303.54+/-108.74 microg/L, P=0.008). K allele enhanced the risk of CHD (P<0.01, OR=2.158, 95%CI: 1.250-3.727). There was the K allele cooperation with smoking in influencing the risk of CHD.
Conclusion: There is the polymorphism of ICAM1 K469E gene in Han population of China, and the K allele may be a genetic factor influencing the risk of CHD.