Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T and methionine synthase A2756G gene polymorphisms and associated risk of cardiovascular diseases: A study from Jammu region.

Aim: Potent risk factors at both genetic and non-genetic levels are accountable for susceptibility and instigation of different cardiovascular phenotypes. Recently, homocysteine is being identified as an important predictor for cardiovascular diseases. Homocysteine remethylation plays a key role in the synthesis of methionine and S-adenosine methionine. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MTR) genes are known to regulate the homocysteine remethylation reaction and higher homocysteine level is significantly associated with diverse cardiovascular phenotypes. In this context, we aimed to carry out a study on the association of MTHFR (C677T) and MTR (A2756G) gene polymorphism with CVD in population of Jammu region of J&K state.

Materials And Methods: A total of 435 individuals were enrolled (195 CVD patients and 240 controls) for the case-control study. Genotyping of MTHFR C677T and MTR A2756G gene polymorphism was done by PCR-RFLP technique. Biochemical parameters were estimated by biochemical analyser.

Results: Metabolic variables such as serum LDL-C, TC and TG were significantly higher in patients (p<0.0001), whereas serum HDL-C was higher in controls. Majority of the patients were having history of hypertension (57.44%; p<0.0001) as a concomitant condition. The evaluation of genetic association showed that, MTHFR C6877T (OR: 8.89, 95% CI: 2.01-39.40) and MTR A2756G (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.09-2.00) polymorphisms associated with higher risk of CVD.

Conclusion: The present study reveals significant differences in nongenetic variables among patients and control as well as association of gene polymorphisms with CVD risk.