Novel association analysis between 9 short tandem repeat loci polymorphisms and coronary heart disease based on a cross-validation design.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate genes associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) screened with a novel cross-validation design.

METHODS

On the basis of age at the onset of the first episode of CHD, stratified sampling by age (<50 years, 50-59 years, 60-69 years, 70-79 years and >80 years) was performed. Alleles of the nine CODIS STR loci including D3S1358, vWA, FGA, D8S1179, D21S11, D18S51, D5S818, D13S317, and D7S820, were determined using the STR Profiler Plus PCR amplification kit. Allele frequencies were compared with a control population. The mean age of patients with and without the alleles was compared. Cross-validation was based on differences in both frequency values and ages instead of adjustment procedure for multiple testing.

RESULTS

There were statistical differences in frequency values between the CHD group and the control population for three alleles, and also statistical differences in the age at first onset of CHD for two alleles; at least one allele, D21S11-28.2, was statistically different with regards to both frequency values and age. It was confirmed that D21S11-28.2 is truly related with CHD.

CONCLUSIONS

A single true CHD-related allele could be discriminated from the sampling errors through cross-validation. It appears that CHD-related genes may be located near to loci D21S11.