Effects of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene on end stage renal disease progression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Aim: To investigate whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene associate with the progression of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

Methods: Databases of EMBASE, Pubmed, ISI, Ovid Database, Cochrane library and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were all searched. Associated studies about eNOS polymorphisms and ADPKD were analyzed by meta-analysis.

Results: A total of 11 studies with Glu298Asp and 4b/a polymorphisms were included. A allele of the 4b/a polymorphism increased the risk of end stage renal disease (ESRD) in ADPKD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.17-2.94, P = 0.009). However, GG phenotype of Glu298Asp polymorphism neither decreased the ESRD risk (OR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.55-1.08, P = 0.13) nor affected the hypertension risk (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 0.66-1.66, P = 0.86). The GG phenotype carriers had later ESRD age compared with the T allele of Glu298Asp polymorphism (WMD = 2.39; 95% CI 1.32-3.46; P < 0.0001). Significant association was also found in Caucasians (WMD = 2.41; 95% CI 1.18-3.64; P = 0.0001). Subgroup analysis by gender indicated GG genotype carriers had older age of ESRD than T allele carriers in males (WMD = 4.51; 95% CI 3.95-5.08; P = 0.00001), but not in females.

Conclusions: GG genotype of the Glu298Asp variant slowed the ESRD progression in ADPKD, while a allele carriers of the 4b/a variant increased the risk of ESRD. Variants of eNOS gene might play different roles in the ESRD progression in ADPKD.