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Plasma ferritin levels, genetic variations in HFE gene, and coronary heart disease in Chinese: a case-control study

Y Shi1, L Zhou, L H Huang

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.

Atherosclerosis
|June 24, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Iron stores and coronary heart disease (CHD) link is unclear. In Chinese Han individuals, HFE gene variations, specifically SNP rs9366637, showed a higher CHD risk, while plasma ferritin levels did not significantly correlate with CHD.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Disease Research
  • Human Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Inconsistent findings exist regarding the association between body iron stores and coronary heart disease (CHD).
  • The role of hemochromatosis (HFE) gene variations in CHD risk requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the association between iron stores and CHD in the Chinese Han population.
  • To examine the relationship between HFE gene variations and CHD risk.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involved 1334 CHD patients and 1334 matched controls.
  • Plasma ferritin levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  • Genotyping of tagSNPs, including rs9366637, was performed using TaqMan SNP allelic discrimination.

Main Results:

  • Plasma ferritin levels were higher in CHD cases than controls (P=0.028), but this association became non-significant after adjusting for traditional risk factors.
  • The C allele of tagSNP rs9366637 in the HFE gene was associated with increased CHD risk (OR=1.35 for TC, 1.76 for CC; P<0.001), independent of conventional risk factors.
  • No significant difference in plasma ferritin levels was observed among different genotypes of rs9366637.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma ferritin levels were not significantly associated with CHD risk in this population.
  • The SNP rs9366637 in the HFE gene is associated with a higher risk of CHD in the Chinese Han population.
  • The underlying biological mechanisms require further elucidation.
Abstract

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