Protective effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme I/I and matrix metalloproteinase-3 6A/6A polymorphisms on

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Vaiva Lesauskaite1, Giedre Sinkunaite-Marsalkiene, Abdonas Tamosiunas

  • 1Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Institute of Cardiology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania. vaiva.lesauskaite@med.kmu.lt

European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery : Official Journal of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery
|November 30, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Genetic variations in angiotensin-converting enzyme and matrix metalloproteinase-3 influence aortic dilatation. The angiotensin-converting enzyme D allele and matrix metalloproteinase-3 6A/6A genotype may increase risk, while combined I/I and 6A/6A genotypes might offer protection.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Genetics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Aortic Diseases

Background:

  • Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and renin/angiotensin system (RAS) activation are implicated in aortic pathology.
  • Specific polymorphisms in MMP-3 and ACE may predispose individuals to aortic dilatation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) 5A/6A and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D polymorphisms as risk factors for aortic dilatation.
  • To explore the association between these genetic variations and dilatative pathology of the ascending thoracic aorta.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of MMP-3 (5A/6A insertion/deletion) and ACE (I/D alleles) using polymerase-chain-reaction amplification.
  • Study included 107 patients with aortic reconstruction for ascending thoracic aorta dilatation and 773 population controls from Lithuania.

Main Results:

  • A significantly higher frequency of the ACE D allele was observed in patients with aortic dilatation compared to controls (0.55 vs. 0.48).
  • The ACE I/I genotype was more frequent in controls than in patients (27.4% vs. 16.5%).
  • The combined ACE I/I and MMP-3 6A/6A genotype was present in 7.5% of controls but absent in patients (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

  • ACE and MMP-3 play a role in the development of dilatative pathology of the ascending thoracic aorta.
  • The combined ACE I/I and MMP-3 6A/6A genotypes may confer a protective effect against aortic dilatation.
Abstract

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