Association of matrix Gla protein gene allelic polymorphisms (G(-7)→A, T(-138)→C and Thr(83)→Ala) with acute coronary syndrome in the Ukrainian population.

Background: Several allelic variants of matrix γ-carboxyglutamic acid protein (MGP) can differentially affect the development of certain forms of ischemic heart disease depending on specific characteristics of each population.

Objective: To study the distribution of allelic variants of MGP promoter T(-138)→C (rs1800802) and G(-7)→A (rs1800801), and Thr(83)→Ala exon 4 (rs4236) polymorphisms in a Ukrainian population of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis were used to detect the above-mentioned variants of the MGP gene in 115 patients with ACS and in 140 essentially healthy individuals.

Results: The distribution of homozygous carriers of a major allelic variant, and heterozygous and homozygous minor allele variants of the T(-138)→C MGP promoter polymorphism in patients with ACS were 59.8%, 32.7% and 7.5%, respectively. The corresponding distributions of variants in the control group were 54.0%, 41.0% and 5.0%, respectively (P>0.05 [χ(2) test]). With respect to the G(-7)→A polymorphism, the respective distributions were 42.1%, 45.6% and 12.3%, compared with 50.7%, 45.0% and 4.3% in the control group, respectively (P<0.05). Finally, the respective distributions according to the Thr(83)→Ala exon 4 polymorphism were 42.6%, 43.5% and 13.9%, respectively, compared with 45.3%, 43.0% and 11.7% in the control group. Using logistic regression analysis, it was estimated that the A/A genotype (G(-7)→A polymorphism) was significantly (P=0.02) associated with ACS (OR 4.302 [95% CI 1.262 to 14.673]).

Conclusion: The allelic A/A promoter variant of MGP G(-7)→A polymorphism can be considered a risk factor for ACS in the Ukrainian population.