Search for Age-Dependent Genetic Risk Factors for Predicting Early Myocardial Infarction in Men And Women

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Genetics
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Atherosclerosis Research

Background:

• Myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of mortality, often linked to atherosclerosis.
• Identifying genetic factors influencing the age of first MI is crucial for risk stratification.
• Candidate genes involved in atherosclerosis pathogenesis and microRNA pathways are potential contributors to MI onset age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between polymorphic variants in candidate genes and the age of first MI.
• To determine if these genetic associations differ between sexes.

Main Methods:

• Genotyping of 548 ethnic Russian patients with known MI onset age using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
• Analysis of candidate genes including PRKCA, CDC42, AGTR1, PAI1, IL10, IFNG, and TGFB1.
• Comparison of allele and genotype frequencies between patients with early (< median) and late (>= median) MI onset.

Main Results:

• In men, specific genotypes of AGTR1 (rs5186*C/C) and PRKCA (rs887797*A/A) were associated with earlier MI onset.
• Combinations of AGTR1 and PRKCA variants showed significant associations with MI age in men.
• In women, specific combinations of PRKCA and IL10, or PRKCA and IFNG variants, were linked to the age of first MI.

Conclusions:

• Several polymorphic variants are associated with the age of first myocardial infarction.
• The genetic factors influencing the age of MI onset exhibit significant sex-specific differences.