Associations of PLA2G7 gene polymorphisms with plasma lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 activity and coronary heart disease in a Chinese Han population: the Beijing atherosclerosis study

Abstract

The human PLA2G7 gene encodes lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)), an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PLA2G7 gene were genotyped in 827 patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), of which 512 were patients with myocardial infarction (MI), and 947 age- and gender-matched controls in a Chinese Han population. Plasma Lp-PLA(2) activity was measured in 416 randomly selected controls and 689 randomly selected CHD patients, including 423 MI patients. Lp-PLA(2) activity in CHD and MI cases was significantly higher (233.42+/-57.66 and 234.27+/-59.51 nmol ml(-1) min(-1), respectively) than in controls (211.47+/-58.61 nmol ml(-1) min(-1)). After adjusting for traditional risk factors by logistic regression, the odds ratios for CHD and MI per 1 standard deviation increment of Lp-PLA(2) activity were 1.27 (95% CI, 1.07-1.50) and 1.27 (95% CI, 1.05-1.54), respectively. Both single SNP analysis and haplotype analysis showed that the V279F and I198T polymorphisms were significantly associated with the reduced Lp-PLA(2) activity, but neither was associated with increased CHD risk. Both univariate and multivariate analyses, adjusting effects of conventional factors, indicated that the rs13210554 T allele increased the risk of MI in this Chinese Han population. In summary, an independent association of increased plasma Lp-PLA(2) activity with CHD and MI existed in this Chinese Han Population. Although V279F and I198T mutations significantly decreased the activity of Lp-PLA(2), only the promoter rs13210554 polymorphism was associated with MI. Lp-PLA(2) activity appears to influence the CHD and MI risk in Chinese Han population.