Relationship between exon 11 CAG triplet nucleotide repeats of myocyte enhancer binding factor-2A polymorphisms and ischemic stroke caused by large artery atherosclerosis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the relationship between exon 11 CAG triplet nucleotide repeats ([CAG]n) of myocyte enhancer binding factor-2A (MEF2A) polymorphisms and ischemic stroke caused by large artery atherosclerosis (LAA). Methods Two hundred and five patients with first onset ischemic stroke caused by LAA, admitted to our hospital from June 2010 to December 2014, and 192 healthy controls were chosen in our study. The polymorphisms of exons 11 of MEF2A gene were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction- sequence-based typing (PCR-SBT). The relation of ischemic stroke caused by LAA with polymorphisms of (CAG)n was analyzed. Results Different (CAG)n alleles could be detected, with repeated sequences of 9-11. Frequencies for the different (CAG)n alleles in exon 11 CAG of MEF2A gene were not the same between the ischemic stroke patients and the controls (χ2=8.547, P=0.036). The distribution frequency of the (CAG)9 allele in the ischemic stroke group was significantly higher than that in the control group (χ2=6.650, P=0.010). Logistic regression analysis indicated that systolic pressure and (CAG)9 (OR=1.401, P=0.017, 95%CI: 1.063-1.847) were the independent risk factors of acute ischemic stroke caused by LAA. Conclusion The (CAG)n polymorphisms may be associated with ischemic stroke caused by LAA and the (CAG)9 allele may be one of the genetic susceptibility factors for this subtype of stroke. Key words: Myocyte enhance factor-2A; CAG triplet nucleotide repeat; Gene polymorphism; Ischemic stroke