The polymorphism in aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 gene is associated with elevated plasma levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the early phase of myocardial infarction.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) is a key enzyme of alcohol metabolism, catalyzing the conversion of aldehyde to acetic acid. The G-to-A polymorphism in exon 12 of the ALDH2 gene, which causes Glu-to-Lys substitution at codon 504, has been shown to be an independent risk factor for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We investigated the possible role of the G-to-A polymorphism in the severity of the myocardial damage in the early phase of AMI by measuring plasma levels of inflammatory markers, including high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). A total of 226 Han Chinese patients with AMI were divided into two groups: subjects without A allele (GG, n = 144) and subjects with A allele (GA and AA, n = 82), and the blood samples were collected within 12 hours after the onset of AMI. The results displayed that high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was higher in GG group than that in GA and AA group (p < 0.05). The body mass index (BMI) and the concentration of hs-CRP were lower in GG group than that in GA and AA group (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that subjects with the A allele were at an increased risk for the high level of hs-CRP (> 3 mg/L) compared with those with GG genotype (OR = 4.908, 95% CI = 1.57 approximately 20.98). Thus, the A allele in ALDH2 gene is associated with the elevated plasma levels of hs-CRP after the onset of AMI, suggesting a higher susceptibility of the myocardium to ischemic injuries.