[Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphism and serum ACE activities in sarcoidosis]

Recently, a genetic control of serum ACE (SACE) levels has been suggested by the identification of an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of the ACE gene by Rigat et al. We have also confirmed significant association between ACE gene polymorphism and SACE activities both in controls and sarcoidosis and established the new reference intervals of SACE activities for each genotype. The new reference intervals improved discrimination between normal and abnormal SACE activities. The frequencies of two alleles (I/D) in Japanese were quite different from those in whites and the insertion allele was dominant in Japanese. This genetic variation may affect the pathogenesis and prognosis of various diseases such as sarcoidosis and ischemic heart diseases.