Association of Angiotensinogen Gene Polymorphism and Coronary Artheriosclerosis

Abstract

Angiotensinogen (AGT) has been implicated in the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of coronary artery disease (CAD) and myocardial infarction (MI). However, there are few studies on the association between the AGT gene and CAD in Taiwanese people. One hundred and seventy-one CAD patients and 84 non-CAD controls were studied. A novel stepdown polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and direct sequencing was used to genotype the M235T and T174M variants of the AGT gene. The 235T allele and TT genotype frequencies were 82% and 65% respectively in the non-CAD group vs. 83% and 68% in the CAD group (p＞0.05). Among subjects with MI, low risk for CAD or different severities of CAD, the 235T or TT frequencies did not differ. The 174T allele and TT genotype frequencies were 92% and 86% in the non-CAD group vs. 89% and 80% in the CAD group (p＞0.05). There was no difference in 174T or 174TT frequencies in subjects with MI, low risk, or different severities of CAD. Accordingly, no association between gene polymorphism of the AGT and coronary heart disease could be found in this Taiwanese population.