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Association study between fibronectin and coronary heart disease
Ying Zhang1, Xin Zhou, Joan C Krepinsky
1Gene Diagnosis Center, Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, China.
Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
|December 27, 2005
Summary
Low circulating fibronectin levels, not gene variations, may indicate coronary heart disease risk in Chinese Han individuals. Further research is needed to confirm fibronectin as a new coronary heart disease marker.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Extracellular Matrix Research
Background:
- Fibronectin, a chemoattractant and scaffold protein, is implicated in wound healing and found in atherosclerotic plaques.
- Its role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease (CHD) requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between fibronectin gene polymorphisms and plasma fibronectin levels with coronary heart disease (CHD) in the Chinese Han population.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of four human fibronectin gene polymorphisms.
- Measurement of plasma fibronectin levels in CHD patients (n=109) and controls (n=123).
- Statistical analysis including logistic regression.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between the studied fibronectin gene polymorphisms and CHD.
- Plasma fibronectin levels were significantly lower in CHD patients (245 ± 87 mg/L) compared to controls (354 ± 88 mg/L).
- Lower circulating fibronectin levels were associated with an increased odds ratio for CHD (OR=0.94).
Conclusions:
- Fibronectin gene polymorphisms are not associated with clinical CHD in this population.
- Low circulating fibronectin levels may serve as a novel biomarker for coronary heart disease.
- This finding warrants further validation in larger and diverse cohorts.