Genetic variations of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene are related to increased levels of C-reactive protein and macrophage-colony stimulating-factor in patients with coronary artery disease

Thromb Haemost. 2006 Oct;96(4):520-8.

Abstract

It was the objective of this study to investigate the relation between nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) gene polymorphisms, vascular inflammation, endothelial function, and atherosclerosis. We examined the effects of a variable nucleotide tandem repeats (VNTR) in intron 4, G894T in exon 7 and T-786C at the promoter region of NOS3 on i) C-reactive protein (CRP) and macrophage-colony stimulating-factor (MCSF), and ii) augmentation index (AI) measured by pulse-wave analysis , flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid and femoral artery using ultrasonography and ankle-brachial index (ABI) in 122 patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent coronary angiography. MCSF and CRP were increased in patients withT-786C (77/122) or VNTR (40/122) allele compared to those without (F = 10.8, p = 0.002 and F = 3.8, p = 0.04 for T-786C and F = 3.65, p = 0.04 and F = 3.2 p = 0.049 forVNTR), even after adjustment for traditional risk factors and medication. Patients with combination of VNTR and T-786C (31/122) had higher MCSF or CRP than patients with one or none of these alleles (p < 0.05). Among patients with T-786C, those with MCSF>262 pg/ml or CRP>3.2 mg/l (n = 33/77) had a higher femoral and carotid IMT and number of plaques in the peripheral arteries than those with lower values of these inflammatory indices (p < 0.05). Patients with MCSF >262 pg/ml had also lower FMD and higher Gensini score than those with lower MCSF (p < 0.05). The intron 4-VNTR and T-786C mutation of NOS3 gene enhance the inflammatory process in patients with chronic CAD.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism*
  • Carotid Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Artery Disease / blood
  • Coronary Artery Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Artery Disease / enzymology
  • Coronary Artery Disease / genetics*
  • Exons
  • Female
  • Femoral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics
  • Introns
  • Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Minisatellite Repeats*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Prospective Studies
  • Tunica Intima / diagnostic imaging
  • Tunica Media / diagnostic imaging
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • NOS3 protein, human
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III