Susceptibility of / Genetic Variations to Ischemic Stroke Risk in a Chinese Han Population.

BACKGROUND

Paraoxonases (PONs) are a family of orphan enzymes with multiple functions, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antiatherogenic activities. Studies have suggested that genetic variations in and are associated with ischemic stroke (IS) risk; however, the conclusion remains unclear in the Chinese population.

METHODS

To investigate the susceptibility of genetic variations in and to risk of IS and its subtypes, this case-control study was carried out on a Chinese population comprising 300 IS patients and 300 healthy controls. Genotypes of six genetic variations in and were identified with an improved multiplex ligase detection-reaction technique.

RESULTS

rs662 was associated with increased risk of IS (CT vs. TT - OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.08-2.97; =0.025). Stratified analysis for patients by sex revealed that the significant association of rs662 with IS risk was maintained in the male cohort (CT vs. TT - OR 2.59, 95% CI 1.29-5.21 [=0.009]; CT/CC vs. TT - OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.05-3.93 [=0.036]), but not in the female cohort. Analysis according to IS subtype revealed that rs662 genetic variation was an increased risk in the subcohort of patients with large-artery atherosclerosis (CT/CC vs. TT - OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.09-4.91; =0.029), but not in patients with other types of IS.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that rs662 presented a potential risk of IS, especially for males, and this association was more obvious for large-artery atherosclerosis.