Relationship between C242T polymorphism and arterial stiffness in an apparently healthy population

Superoxide production is modulated by the C242T polymorphism of the CYBA gene. A major source of the superoxide anion that contributes to arterial stiffness is oxidase. We investigated the relationship between the C242T polymorphism and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in an apparently healthy population, while controlling for the amount of consumed cigarette. We measured baPWV non-invasively, recorded the detailed history of smoking and genotyped the C242T polymorphism in 856 participants. The CC genotype was related to a higher value of baPWV than the CT/TT genotype (1438.7±11.9 vs 1371.0±32.4 cm s(-1), β=-0.069, P=0.03) after adjustment for covariates. Further investigation showed an interaction between C242T polymorphism and smoking status with respect to baPWV (P<0.0001). For smokers, the CC genotype of C242T polymorphism was correlated with higher baPWV values compared with CT/TT genotype (1344.2±17.4 vs 1126.8±22.5 cm s(-1), β=-0.279, P<0.0001), whereas this relationship in the non-smokers was not significant (1485.5±15.1 vs 1499.0±41.5 cm s(-1), β=0.027, P=0.48). Additionally, for smokers who smoked at least 180 cigarette-years, the CC genotype participants showed higher values of baPWV compared with CT/TT polymorphism carriers (P⩽0.011). Our findings suggest that the C242T gene polymorphism is associated with arterial stiffness. Additionally, this relationship could be modified by smoking dose.