Genetic variation of the androgen receptor and risk of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke in women.

Background And Purpose: Androgen receptors (AR) are expressed in endothelial cells and vascular smooth-muscle cells. Some studies suggest an association between AR gene variation and risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men; however, the relationship has not been examined in women.

Methods: Six haplotype block-tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs962458, rs6152, rs1204038, rs2361634, rs1337080, rs1337082), as well as the cysteine, adenine, guanine (CAG) microsatellite in exon 1, of the AR gene were evaluated among 300 white postmenopausal women who developed CVD (158 myocardial infarctions and 142 ischemic strokes) and an equal number of matched controls within the Women's Health Study.

Polymorphisms and haplotypes of the estrogen receptor-beta gene (ESR2) and cardiovascular disease in men and women.

Background: Cohort studies suggest an association between variation in the estrogen receptor-alpha gene (ESR1) and cardiovascular disease (CVD), but data are lacking for the effect of variation in the estrogen receptor-beta gene (ESR2).

Methods: Three polymorphisms of the ESR2 gene, and their associated haplotypes, were evaluated in 296 white women from the Women's Health Study and 566 white men from the Physicians' Health Study who developed CVD [myocardial infarction (MI) or ischemic stroke], each matched 1:1 to a member of the cohort study who remained free from CVD. Blood samples and cardiovascular risk information were collected at baseline.

Association of adiponectin gene variations with risk of incident myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke: a nested case-control study.

Background: Adiponectin (ADIPOQ) gene variations are associated with risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with diabetes. No prospective data are available, however, on the risk of atherothrombotic disorders in persons with ADIPOQ variations who do not have diabetes.

Methods: From a group of DNA samples collected at baseline in a prospective cohort of 14 916 initially healthy American men, we assessed the presence of 5 ADIPOQ genetic variants (rs266729, rs182052, rs822396, rs2241766, and rs1501299) in samples from 600 Caucasian men who subsequently suffered an atherothrombotic event (incident myocardial infarction or ischemic stroke) and from 600 age- and smoking-matched Caucasian men who remained free of reported vascular disease during follow-up (controls).

Polymorphisms of the phosphodiesterase 4D, cAMP-specific (PDE4D) gene and risk of ischemic stroke: a prospective, nested case-control evaluation.

Background And Purpose: In an Icelandic population, gene variants of the phosphodiesterase 4D, cAMP-specific (PDE4D) gene were reported to be risk predictors for ischemic stroke. Case-control studies in other populations have yielded mixed evidence for association. A recent analysis in a prospective, non-Icelandic study found an association with stroke after stratification by hypertension.

Genetic variants of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein, and risk of incident myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke: a nested case-control approach.

Background And Purpose: Recent findings have implicated specific gene polymorphisms of arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein (ALOX5AP), and 2 at-risk haplotypes (HapA, HapB) in myocardial infarction and stroke. To date, no prospective data are available.

Methods: We evaluated 10 specific Icelandic ALOX5AP gene variants among 600 male participants with incident atherothrombotic events (myocardial infarction [MI] or ischemic stroke) and among 600 age- and smoking-matched male participants, all white, who remained free of reported cardiovascular disease during follow-up within the Physicians' Health Study cohort.

Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase gene polymorphisms and risk of incident myocardial infarction.

Tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase (WARS) gene polymorphisms have been associated with the patho-physiology of vascular angiogenesis and homeostasis. Data from a recent genome-wide linkage analysis suggested a potential role of WARS in the risk of myocardial infarction. However, no genetic-epidemiological data are available.

Toll-like receptor 4 Asp299Gly gene polymorphism and risk of atherothrombosis.

Background And Purpose: Recent findings of an association between a functional toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) D299G gene variant and reduced risk of atherothrombotic disorders have generated great interest.

Methods: We evaluated the TLR4 D299G polymorphism among 695 individuals with incident myocardial infarction (MI) or stroke and among 695 age- and smoking-matched individuals who remained free of reported cardiovascular disease during follow-up within the Physicians' Health Study.

Results: Overall, we observed little evidence of association between the D299G polymorphism and risk of any atherothrombotic event (P=0.

C-reactive protein gene polymorphisms and the incidence of post-angioplasty restenosis.

Recent findings have demonstrated that plasma C-reactive protein levels predict restenosis after coronary angioplasty. Furthermore, C-reactive protein levels have also been shown to be heritable. However, no genetic-epidemiological data are available on the relationship between genetic variants of C-reactive protein (CRP) gene and risk of restenosis after angioplasty.