Association of A561C and G98T polymorphisms in E-selectin gene with coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis

E-selectin (SELE) mediates the rolling and adhesion of leukocytes on activated endothelial cells and plays a critial role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). Associatons between the A561C and G98T polymorphisms of the SELE gene and CAD risk were investigated broadly, but the results were inconsistent. In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the associations between the two polymorphisms and the risk of CAD.

Comprehensive research was conducted to identify relevant studies. The fixed or random effect model was selected based on the heterogeneity among studies, which was evaluated with Q-test and Ι(2). Meta-regression was used to explore the potential sources of between-study heterogeneity. Peters's linear regression test was used to estimate the publication bias.

Overall, 24 articles involving 3694 cases and 3469 controls were included. After excluding articles deviating from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls and sensitive analysis, our meta-analysis showed a significant association between the A561C ploymprphism and CAD in dominant (OR= 1.84, 95% CI = 1.56-2.16) and codominant (OR= 1.74, 95% CI= 1.49-2.03) models. As for the G98T polymorphism, significantly increased CAD risk was observed in dominant (OR = 1.47, 95% CI= 1.16-1.87) and codominant (OR= 1.48, 95% CI = 1.18-1.86) models, but after subgroup analysis, the association was not significant among Caucasians in dominant (OR= 1.58, 95% CI= 0.73-3.41) and codominant (OR= 1.58, 95% CI= 0.79-3.20) models.

Despite some limitations, our meta-analysis suggested that the SELE gene polymorphisms (A561C, G98T) were significantly associated with increased risk of CAD. However, after subgroup analysis no significant association was found among Caucasians for the G98T polymorphism, which may be due to the small sample size and other confounding factors. Future investigations with multicenter, large-scale, and multi-ethnic groups are needed.