Allelic polymorphism in the promoter (T-->C), but not in exon 7 (G-->T) or the variable number tandem repeat in intron 4, of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene is positively associated with acute coronary syndrome in the Ukrainian population

Background: Different allelic variants of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) can have different effects on the development of certain forms of ischemic heart disease, depending on the specific human population. The frequency of the polymorphism T(-786) --> C in the promoter, G(894)-->T in exon 7 and the variable number tandem repeat in intron 4 were assayed in patients with acute coronary syndrome compared with clinically healthy individuals in the Ukrainian population.

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis were used to detect the above mentioned variants of the eNOS gene in 221 patients with acute coronary syndrome and in 83 control subjects.

Results: It was shown that the percentage of normal homozygotes, heterozygotes and pathological homozygotes for the T(-786)-->C promoter polymorphism was 47.5%, 36.2% and 16.3%, respectively (controls: 48.2%, 45.8% and 6.0%; P<0.05 by chi(2) test); for the G(894)-->T polymorphism in exon 7, the percentages were 34.4%, 57.9% and 7.7%, respectively (controls: 28.9%, 67.5% and 3.6%; P>0.05); and, for the 4a/4b polymorphism in intron 4, the percentages were 64.7%, 31.2% and 4.1%, respectively (controls: 62.7%, 32.5% and 4.8%; P>0.05).

Conclusions: The C/C promoter variant of eNOS can be considered a risk factor for acute coronary syndrome in the Ukrainian population.