Key result
The NOS3 4a allele was significantly associated with myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population, with a higher frequency in patients compared to controls (21.8% vs 13.9%, p=0.01).
Why the study?
Is the 27-bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the NOS3 gene associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population?
Case-Control (n=560)
Is the 27-bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the NOS3 gene associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population?
The presence of the 4a allele in the NOS3 gene is significantly associated with myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population.
Suggests possible genetic susceptibility to MI in Tunisians; hypothesis-generating and requires replication before any clinical consideration.
BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mediates endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and antithrombotic action. Controversial results regarding the association of eNOS gene (NOS3) polymorphisms with myocardial infarction (MI) have been reported. In the present study, we examined a possible association between a 27-base pair (bp) repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the NOS3 gene and MI in a subgroup of the Tunisian population. METHODS: A total of 310 Tunisian patients with MI and 250 healthy controls were included in the study. The NOS3 gene intron 4a4b variable number of tandem repeats polymorphism was analyzed by PCR. RESULTS: A significant difference in genotype distribution and allele frequency was observed between patients and controls. Patients with MI had a frequency of 4.8% for the 4a4a genotype, 33.9% for the 4a4b genotype and 61.3% for the 4b4b genotype. Controls had a frequency of only 1.6% for the 4a4a genotype, 24.4% for the 4a4b genotype and 74.0% for the 4b4b genotype (chi2=11.81, p=0.003). The MI patient group showed a significant higher frequency of the 4a allele compared to controls (0.218 vs. 0.139; chi2=5.81, p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, a significant association between the NOS34a/4b gene polymorphism (presence of 4a allele) and MI in the Tunisian population was found.
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Jemaa et al. (2007) conducted a case-control in Myocardial infarction (n=560). NOS3 gene intron 4a4b polymorphism (4a allele) vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Frequency of the NOS3 4a allele (p=0.01). The NOS3 4a allele was significantly associated with myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population, with a higher frequency in patients compared to controls (21.8% vs 13.9%, p=0.01).
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