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Relationship between catalase haplotype and arterial aging
Valérie Nivet-Antoine1, Carlos Labat, Said El Shamieh
1AP-HP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Service de Biochimie, Paris, France. valerie.nivet-antoine@parisdescartes.fr
Insights
A specific catalase (CAT) gene variation, the CAT2 haplotype, is linked to arterial aging, increasing carotid artery diameter and atheromatous plaques. The CAT1 haplotype appears protective against these aging markers.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Genetics
- Aging Research
Background:
- Arterial aging is a significant factor in cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in older adults.
- Oxidative stress and the antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) are implicated in endothelial cell function and arterial aging.
- Identifying novel risk factors for arterial aging is crucial for public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between catalase (CAT) gene haplotypes and arterial aging phenotypes.
- To analyze relationships with common carotid artery (CCA) diameter, intima-media thickness, and atheromatous plaques in French cohorts.
Main Methods:
- Genotyping of the Catalase rs769214 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in 564 individuals from the ERA and STANISLAS cohorts.
- Measurement of blood pressure, CCA intima-media thickness, CCA internal diameter, and atheromatous plaque count.
- Haplotype analysis to determine the influence of CAT variants on arterial aging markers.
Main Results:
- A specific CAT haplotype (CAT2) was associated with increased CCA internal diameter and a higher number of atheromatous plaques.
- The CAT2 haplotype emerged as an independent risk factor for arterial aging.
- These findings were observed alongside established risk factors like age, blood pressure, and BMI.
Conclusions:
- Catalase (CAT) haplotypes play a significant role in the process of arterial aging.
- The CAT1 haplotype demonstrates a protective effect, potentially reducing CCA diameter and atheromatous plaque formation.
- This research underscores the importance of genetic factors in arterial aging and associated cardiovascular risks.
Background:
Although many conventional factors have been associated with the development of arterial aging, cardiovascular diseases remain the first cause of death in old age. Therefore, identification of new risk factors may prove promising for monitoring this serious health problem. Oxidative stress and particularly catalase (CAT), an antioxidant enzyme, play an important role in endothelial cell pathophysiology, in shear stress response and ultimately in arterial aging.
Objective:
Examine the relationships between CAT haplotypes and phenotypes of arterial aging (mean internal diameter, mean intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries (CCA), presence of atheromatous plaques) in two French cohorts.
Methods And Results:
564 middle-aged French individuals (mean age 53 ± 12 years) from two cohorts (ERA and STANISLAS cohorts) were included in the study. Blood pressure, CCA intima-media thickness, CCA internal diameter and number of atheromatous plaques were measured. Catalase rs769214 SNP genotyping was performed. We identified a CAT haplotype that influences arterial aging. Individuals carrying the CAT2 haplotype had a higher mean internal diameter of CCA with aging and/or with an SBP ≥140 mmHg and were associated with a greater number of atheromatous plaques than CAT1 haplotypes carriers. This CAT2 haplotype appeared as an independent risk factor of arterial aging, similarly to previously identified factors such as age, systolic blood pressure, male, sex, tobacco use, hs-CRP, BMI and diabetes.
Conclusion:
The present study highlights the roles of CAT haplotypes in arterial aging and underlines the beneficial impact of the CAT1 haplotype on mean internal diameter of the CCA and atheromatous plaque number as well as on potential associated diseases.
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