Molecular genetics and gene expression in atherosclerosis

Although molecular cardiology is a relative young discipline, the impact of the new techniques on diagnosis and therapy in cardiovascular disease are extensive. Our insight into pathophysiological mechanisms is rapidly expanding and is changing our understanding of cardiovascular disease radically and irrevocably. Molecular cardiology has many different aspects. In this paper the importance of molecular cardiology and genetics for every day clinical practice are briefly outlined. It is expected that in the genetic predisposition for atherosclerotic disease multiple genes are involved (genetics). The role of only a minority of genes involved in the atherosclerotic process is known. Far less is known about particular gene-gene and gene-environment interactions. In some families disease can be explained mostly by a single, major gene (monogenic), of which the lipid disorder Familial Hypercholesterolemia is an example. In other cases, one or several variations in minor genes (multigenic) contribute to an atherosclerotic predisposition, for instance the lipoprotein lipase gene. Although mutations in this gene influence lipoprotein levels, disease development is predominantly depending on environmental influences. Recently several additional genetic risk factors were identified including elevated levels of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)], the DD genotype of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and elevated levels of homocysteine. This illustrates the complexity of genetics in relation to atherosclerosis and the difficulty to assign predictive values to separate genetic risk factors. Furthermore, little attention has been given to protective genes thus far, explaining why some high risk patients are protected from vascular disease. Genetics based treatment or elimination of the genetic risk factor requires complete understanding of the pathogenic molecular basis. Once this requirement is fulfilled, disease management can be strived for, provided that adequate medical management is available. Recent studies suggest that such treatment should be genotype specific, as the genetic makeup can determine the outcome of a pharmacological intervention (pharmacogenetics). Once the trigger for atherosclerosis has initiated disease development, various genes are activated or silenced and contribute to lesion progression. Every stage of lesion development depends on a different gene expression programme (genomics). In this review paper an introduction is provided into genetics, pharmacogenetics and gene expression with respect to atherosclerotic disease.