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Genetics of atherosclerosis

Aldons J Lusis1, Rebecca Mar, Paivi Pajukanta

  • 1Department of 1Human Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA. jlusis@mednet.ucla.edu

Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics
|October 16, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Atherosclerosis, a major cause of heart attack and stroke, arises from complex genetic and environmental factors. Identifying these common genetic contributors requires integrated research approaches.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Genetics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a primary cause of coronary artery disease (CAD) and stroke.
  • Family history is a significant independent risk factor for CAD.
  • Monogenic disorders like familial hypercholesterolemia explain only a small portion of atherosclerosis susceptibility.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the common, complex forms of coronary artery disease (CAD).
  • To highlight the multifactorial genetic and environmental contributions to atherosclerosis.
  • To discuss strategies for discovering genetic factors in complex CAD.

Main Methods:

  • Review of genetic-epidemiologic studies.
  • Characterization of Mendelian disorders associated with atherosclerosis.
  • Emphasis on complementary approaches including animal models, human genetic studies, and functional experiments.

Main Results:

  • Numerous genetic and nongenetic risk factors for CAD have been identified.
  • Most myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke cases result from gene-environment interactions.
  • Discovery of genetic factors for common CAD necessitates integrated research strategies.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding complex atherosclerosis requires investigating the interplay of multiple genetic and environmental factors.
  • Future research should integrate diverse methodologies to uncover the genetic basis of common CAD.
  • This review focuses on the common, complex etiologies of CAD.

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