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Haptoglobin 2 allele associates with unstable carotid plaque and major cardiovascular events

Petra Ijäs1, Jani Saksi, Lauri Soinne

  • 1Department of Neurology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland; Research Programs Unit, Molecular Neurology, Biomedicum-Helsinki and Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Atherosclerosis
|October 1, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Haptoglobin (Hp) gene variants influence the inflammatory response to intraplaque hemorrhages (IPH), increasing the risk of unstable carotid stenosis and major cardiovascular events like stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Genetics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Intraplaque hemorrhages (IPH) are linked to atherosclerotic disease complications.
  • The role of confounding factors in IPH's impact is not fully understood.
  • Haptoglobin (Hp) facilitates hemoglobin clearance and protects against heme-iron damage.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if haptoglobin (Hp) gene variants modify the inflammatory response to IPH.
  • To determine the association between Hp variants and the risk of unstable carotid stenosis (CS).
  • To assess the link between Hp variants and major cardiovascular disease risk.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyped Hp polymorphism in 91 high-grade CS patients (HeCES) and 1417 individuals (Health 2000).
  • Determined heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) expression in carotid plaques relative to Hp genotypes.
  • Analyzed Hp genotype frequencies and their association with cardiovascular disease risk.

Main Results:

  • The hp2-2 genotype was more frequent in unstable CS patients compared to controls (0.516 vs. 0.371, P=0.025).
  • Hp genotypes correlated with HO1 expression in carotid plaques (r=0.47, P=0.027).
  • The hp2 allele was associated with increased risk of major cardiovascular diseases (OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.03-2.06).

Conclusions:

  • Common haptoglobin variants modulate the inflammatory response to IPH.
  • Hp variants are associated with the risk of unstable carotid stenosis.
  • Haptoglobin genotype influences the risk of major ischemic cardiovascular events.
Abstract

Keywords:
Carotid stenosesIntraplaque hemorrhageMyocardial infarctionStroke

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